Public water system record
Santa Rita Water
Serves an area of Santa Barbara County, CA · 59 people served
Federal records show 8 health-based violations and 2 monitoring/reporting issues for Santa Rita Water in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Arsenic violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 8
- Resolved
- 8
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 2
Key facts
- Santa Rita Water draws water from 2 wells.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Arsenic, 14.2 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (1.4 times the limit), 2021.
- Most recent formal enforcement: administrative penalty by California, June 2025.
- Record on file since 1993, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 0 unknown out of 18 service lines.
Check whether Santa Rita Water serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 10.4 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
330 | Oct 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 10.42 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
330 | Jul 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 10.46 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
330 | Apr 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 10.07 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
330 | Jan 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 12.18 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
330 | Oct 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 12.93 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
330 | Jul 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 12.97 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
330 | Apr 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Arsenic
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 14.2 µg/L, federal limit 10 µg/L (1.4 times the limit)
|
330 | Jan 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2024 |
Active
Enforcement action in place
|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2017 | Resolved |
Full record since 1993
EPA's records for Santa Rita Water go back to 1993. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020s | 8 | 1 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began September 2015, Resolved.
Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Sep 1, 2015 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 1996 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
California regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against Santa Rita Water between 2021 and 2025. The most recent was an administrative penalty in June 2025.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2025 | California | Administrative penalty | 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule |
| Jun 11, 2021 | California | Compliance order (no penalty) | 8 violations (8 health-based): Arsenic |
What the violations mean
Arsenic
8 incidentsArsenic exceeded the federal limit
Long-term arsenic exposure is linked to cancer and cardiovascular effects
Where the water comes from
Santa Rita Water draws water from 2 wells.
Annual water quality report
Santa Rita Water must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 500 or fewer people may meet the rule by telling customers the report is available on request, so you may need to ask Santa Rita Water for a copy.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by California.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells