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Estero Mutual

What EPA’s and California’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
206 people
Connections
148
Water source
Surface water
Based in
Dillon Beach, CA
County
Marin
Owner
Private
Hardness
Varies by source
The ZIP code it serves

94929

The short answer

1 result is above EPA’s legal limit, and 1 more is above the health goal. The worst: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), above the legal limit. 5 health-based violations since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), arsenic, haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate, fluoride and chromium (total): California’s own results, samples taken from Jan. 20, 2020 to July 22, 2025, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Uranium: EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from May 14, 2012 to May 14, 2012. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the legal limit1

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Above the legal limit

60.6ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

2025 average: 2.6 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 60.6 ppb, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. Its highest single sample was 152 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its six samples averaged 2.6 ppb. EPA judges this limit at each sampling point, and recorded a violation for total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at this utility in 2021. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 195 ppb, in 2012, and EPA recorded violations in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Above the health goal1

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

1.9ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.9 ppb, in 2025: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 4.1 ppb. That was also the latest year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 0.7 ppb, in 2018.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Below EPA’s limits4

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

44.8ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

2025 average: 6.0 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 44.8 ppb, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. Its highest single sample was 77.7 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its three samples averaged 6.0 ppb. EPA recorded no violation for haloacetic acids (HAA5) at this utility since 2020. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 73.7 ppb, in 2012, and EPA recorded violations in 2012 and 2015.

What handles it

No certification claim covers this compound yet.

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

4.0ppm

Highest sample; found in 2 of 23

2025: not found

The highest sample, in 2021, was 4.0 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2025, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in any of its six samples. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 1.2 ppm, in 2013.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

0.61ppm

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

2025: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.61 ppm, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. Its highest single sample was 1.1 ppm. In 2025, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in any of its two samples. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 0.27 ppm, in 2015.

What handles it

Chromium (total)

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

1.4ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.4 ppb, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 100 ppb. Its highest single sample was 1.8 ppb. That was also the latest year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 1.6 ppb, in 2013.

What handles it

2 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Lead
  • Uranium

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claims: Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: VOC Reduction; Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claims: Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

At the tap, or for the whole house?

These come with the water itself, so a whole-house system certified for the same claims treats every tap and shower. A filter at the tap treats drinking water for much less. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

Compare five-year costs

The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

Hardness

Soft to moderately hard depending on the source, 51 to 97 mg/L (3 to 5.7 grains per gallon), across 6 sampling points, 2019 to 2025.

Hardness is calcium and magnesium. EPA sets no limit for it: it shows up as scale on fixtures and in water heaters, and as soap that won’t lather. USGS calls water above 60 mg/L moderately hard, above 120 hard and above 180 very hard.

Softeners compared, salt includedSoftener or salt-free conditioner?California water hardness, utility by utility

Violations since 2016

Contaminant or ruleTypePeriodMeasuredStatus
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageOct. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 20210.098 MG/LResolved
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJuly 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 20210.095 MG/LResolved
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageOct. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 20160.081 MG/LResolved
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageApril 1, 2016 to June 30, 20160.097 MG/LResolved
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJan. 1, 2016 to March 31, 20160.1 MG/LResolved
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), arsenic, haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate, fluoride and chromium (total) results here are California’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Uranium comes from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Estero Mutual’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; California’s results run from Jan. 20, 2020 to July 22, 2025; EPA’s compliance samples are from May 14, 2012 to May 14, 2012.

Testing your own tap

Estero Mutual’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab California certifies.

The 3 labs California certifies closest to the area Estero Mutual serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Alpha Analytical Laboratories Inc. - North Bay

    Petaluma, CA · about 17 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, PFAS

    (707) 769-3128

  • Brelje and Race Laboratories, Inc.

    Santa Rosa, CA · about 19 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts

    (707) 544-8807

  • K Prime, LLC.

    Santa Rosa, CA · about 20 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, PFAS

    (707) 527-7574

All 145 certified labs for California

Sources

PWSID CA2100519. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Towns it serves

Also in Marin County

All California utilities

What to do next