A84/100
ARCATA, CITY OF — Water Quality Report 2026
Serving 20,875 people · California
Water Source
Purchased Groundwater
County
—
System ID
CA1210001
Violations
1
Contaminant Test Results
2 contaminants above EPA health goals
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit (MCL) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Copper (90th percentile) | 1.50 mg/L | 1.30 mg/L | Over Limit |
Lead (90th percentile) | 0.002 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Above Goal |
EPA Violation History
No violations in the past 5 years
Full EPA compliance since 1993.
Understanding violation severity
Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly
Frequently Asked Questions About ARCATA, CITY OF
Is ARCATA, CITY OF water safe to drink?
ARCATA, CITY OF water receives a grade of A (84/100), which is considered excellent. Out of 67 contaminants tested, 1 exceed EPA legal limits. 2 contaminant(s) exceed non-enforceable health goals. The water meets federal safety standards.
What contaminants has ARCATA, CITY OF detected?
67 contaminants were tested in ARCATA, CITY OF's water. Notable contaminants include Copper (90th percentile), Lead (90th percentile). 1 exceed EPA legal limits (MCLs). 2 exceed EPA health goals (MCLGs).
Does ARCATA, CITY OF have any EPA violations?
Yes, ARCATA, CITY OF has 1 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 1993. Violation types include TT. 1 are health-based violations.
How many people does ARCATA, CITY OF serve?
ARCATA, CITY OF serves approximately 20,875 people, California. The system provides water to 1 community: Arcata.
What type of water does ARCATA, CITY OF provide?
ARCATA, CITY OF sources its water from purchased groundwater. Groundwater is pumped from underground aquifers, which often provides natural filtration. The utility's system ID is CA1210001.
How does ARCATA, CITY OF compare to other utilities in California?
ARCATA, CITY OF scores 84/100 with a grade of A (excellent). This places it among the higher-performing utilities in the state. Visit our California state page for a full comparison of water systems.