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Oak Trail Ranch

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
102 people
Connections
31
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Santa Ynez, CA
County
Santa Barbara
Owner
Private
Hardness
Very hard
The ZIP code it serves

93460

The short answer

2 results are above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic, above the health goal. No health-based violations on file since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Arsenic, uranium, nitrate, chromium (total), fluoride and total trihalomethanes (TTHM): California’s own results, samples taken from Nov. 4, 2020 to Feb. 9, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Above the health goal2

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

2.8ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2024

2024 average: 2.4 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 2.8 ppb, in 2021: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 2.8 ppb. In 2024, the latest year on file, its two samples averaged 2.4 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 2.8 ppb, in 2015.

What handles it

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

Uranium

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

2.7ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021

Averaged by year, the highest was 2.7 ppb, in 2021: below EPA’s legal limit of 30 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 3.4 ppb. That is the only year on file.

What handles it

Below EPA’s limits2

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

2.7ppm

Highest sample; found in 13 of 14

2026 average: 2.3 ppm

The highest sample, in 2022, was 2.7 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its two samples averaged 2.3 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 2.8 ppm, in 2017.

What handles it

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

Chromium (total)

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

16.5ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2024

2024 average: 16.5 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 16.5 ppb, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 100 ppb. Its highest single sample was 18 ppb. In 2024, the latest year on file, its two samples averaged 16.5 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 21 ppb, in 2018.

What handles it

3 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Fluoride
  • Lead
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

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

    Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Arsenic

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

  • NSF/ANSI 58

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

    For: Arsenic, Uranium

    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

Very hard, typically 288 mg/L (16.8 grains per gallon), across 2 sampling points, 2021 to 2024.

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 at 16.8 grains per gallon, salt includedSoftener or salt-free conditioner?California water hardness, utility by utility

Violations since 2016

No health-based violations on file with EPA since 2016.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Arsenic, uranium, nitrate, chromium (total), fluoride and total trihalomethanes (TTHM) results here are California’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Oak Trail Ranch’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has 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 Nov. 4, 2020 to Feb. 9, 2026.

Testing your own tap

Oak Trail Ranch’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 Oak Trail Ranch serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Clinical Laboratory of San Bernardino II

    Lompoc, CA · about 25 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (805) 737-7300

  • Oilfield Environmental & Compliance Inc. (OEC)

    Santa Maria, CA · about 33 miles

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

    (805) 922-4772

  • Capco Analytical Services

    Ventura, CA · about 52 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, metals, minerals and other inorganics

    (805) 644-1095

All 145 certified labs for California

Sources

PWSID CA4200802. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Towns it serves

Also in Santa Barbara County

All California utilities

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