Public water monitoring in Santa Monica shows a safety record well above the CA median — health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

Water Quality Map: Santa Monica, CA

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Overview

We track water quality and home safety data for 11 ZIP codes in Santa Monica, California (population ~93,880), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 3,965,513 people region-wide.

No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Santa Monica — an excellent indicator of water quality.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Santa Monica: B (82/100)

The score combines three factors:

Factor	What It Measures
Water Quality	EPA violations and compliance history
Lead Levels	90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level
Radon Risk	EPA radon zone classification

Water Sources

Santa Monica water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
• 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

• Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
• Zone 2 (Moderate): 11 ZIP codes
• Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Santa Monica

• 90401 [B]
• 90402 [B]
• 90403 [B]
• 90404 [B]
• 90405 [B]
• 90406 [B]
• 90407 [B]
• 90408 [B]
• 90409 [B]
• 90410 [B]
• 90411 [B]

Data Sources

• Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
• Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
• Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Updated daily.

Santa Monica: Remediation Cost in Perspective

When remediation costs are measured against Santa Monica home values, the resulting ratio is in the low tier — addressing documented water and safety issues here claims only a minor fraction of typical equity, and most homeowners are in a position where the financial commitment is straightforward rather than a material burden on their household budget.

Median Home Value

$1.6M

Est. Remediation

$1,382

Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Remediation costs in Santa Monica are relatively low compared to home values. The $655–$2,209 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 110% above the California average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Santa Monica

0.002

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Lead risk in Santa Monica appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Climate-Related Water Risk for Santa Monica

Taken together, Santa Monica's 78 NFIP flood insurance claims and 45% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.

78

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$6,209

Avg Claim Payout

45%

ZIPs in FEMA Flood Zones

~4

Est. Claims/Year

Santa Monica has a moderate flood history with 78 FEMA claims averaging $6,209 per payout. 45% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,382</strong> remediation cost per household.

Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.

Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.