Plumas County, California
14 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Although much of Plumas County meets baseline standards, some of its 14 ZIP codes show violations that merit closer attention.
How Plumas County Compares
How Plumas County Compares
Plumas County scores 7 points below the California state average (73/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Plumas County, California
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.1 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 13.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,101, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.332% avg pipe failure probability, 23% of ZIPs at high risk
62.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Plumas County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 9 violations. Past 5 years: 14 total (14 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,101
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
12,330 housing units in Plumas County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Plumas County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Plumas County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Plumas County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Plumas County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Portola | 2,100 | 9 |
| 2 | Grizzly Lake Csd-delleker | 1,314 | 9 |
| 3 | Greenhorn Creek Csd | 280 | 9 |
| 4 | Grizzly Lake Csd-crocker/welch | 215 | 9 |
| 5 | Gold Mountain Csd | 135 | 9 |
18 total water systems serve Plumas County.
All ZIP Codes in Plumas County
14 ZIP codes tracked in Plumas County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 96137 | Westwood | 83 | B | 0 | $403K |
| 2 | 96106 | Clio | 79 | B | 3 (1 health) | $520K |
| 3 | 95971 | Quincy | 76 | B | 1 | $308K |
| 4 | 95984 | Twain | 75 | B | 4 (2 health) | $428K |
| 5 | 95947 | Greenville | 74 | B | 2 (1 health) | $344K |
| 6 | 96135 | Vinton | 67 | C | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 7 | 95915 | Belden | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 8 | 95934 | Crescent Mills | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 9 | 95983 | Taylorsville | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 10 | 96105 | Chilcoot | 63 | C | 0 | $446K |
| 11 | 96122 | Portola | 59 | C | 9 (6 health) | $239K |
| 12 | 95956 | Meadow Valley | 53 | D | 0 | $280K |
| 13 | 95980 | Storrie | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 14 | 96129 | Beckwourth | 53 | D | 0 | $313K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Plumas County
Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 62.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Plumas County, California
Overview
Plumas County in California covers 14 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
6 of 14 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to California water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.