We read 13 results from Santa Monica-City, Water Division’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 2 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 89,947 people · Water system ID CA1910146 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead90th percentile of 35 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 6 | 2.1 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal11x the health goal |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 573 to 690 · Weymouth Plant (MWD), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 632 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.3x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Chloramineaverage · range ND to 3.5 · Citywide · 2024 report, page 6 | 2 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chlorideaverage · range 96 to 116 · Weymouth Plant (MWD), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 106 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Copper90th percentile of 35 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 6 | 0.2 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 17.5 · Citywide · 2024 report, page 6 | 3.8 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 6.9 to 50.2 · Citywide · 2024 report, page 6 | 20.9 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Sulfateaverage · range 200 to 250 · Weymouth Plant (MWD), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 225 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Citywide · 2024 report, page 6 | Not detected | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Not detected |
| Alkalinityaverage · range 109 to 127 · Weymouth Plant (MWD), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 118 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Boronaverage · printed as 200 ppb · Arcadia Plant (local wells), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.2 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnessaverage · range 14.1 to 17.7 · Weymouth Plant (MWD), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 15.9 gpg (272 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Sodiumaverage · range 93 to 117 · Weymouth Plant (MWD), highest of 3 sources · 2024 report, page 7 | 105 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Santa Monica-City, Water Division’s water between Feb 2023 and Aug 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4.6 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS4.5 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium34.8 ppbFound in 6 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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