During the Spring and Summer quarters of 2025, the Isla Vista Tenants Union (IVTU) partnered with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) at UC Santa Barbara to investigate concerns about local water quality in Isla Vista. Several tenants had reached out to IVTU reporting issues with their tap water; describing it as ‘hard’ or unusually mineral-heavy. In response, our two organizations collaborated to conduct a community-centered study to better understand the quality of water in Isla Vista.

Over the course of July 2025, EWB members collected twenty water samples from residences across Isla Vista. Samples were tested for a range of potential contaminants – including metals, bacteria and dissolved solids – and the results were compared against California Title 22 drinking water standards.

The findings were reassuring:

• No health-based standards were exceeded. Tests showed no presence of E. coli, total coliform, or harmful metals like lead or arsenic.

• Some aesthetic indicators, such as total dissolved solids (TDS) and sulfate, were slightly above the state’s recommended (but not hazardous) levels in a few samples, potentially explaining reports of ‘hard’ or mineral-tasting water.

• A handful of sites also showed low or undetectable chlorine residuals, which can contribute to taste or odor differences but are not safety concerns.

Overall, the results indicate that Isla Vista’s water is safe to drink, with only minor variations in taste and mineral content across locations. IVTU and EWB hope these findings bring peace of mind to local residents and demonstrate the value of proactive community science.

If community members have questions about the results or suggestions for future testing, both the IVTU and EWB welcomes feedback and continued dialogue about water quality in Isla Vista.

The full report from this project is linked below for anyone interested in reviewing the detailed results and methodology.