City of Arcata
EPA ID: CA1210001 · 20,875 people served · 4 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Arcata (CA1210001): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Although compliance varies widely among water utilities nationally, City of Arcata stands out with zero EPA violations over five consecutive monitoring years, delivering safe tap water to 20,875 residents and showing no enforcement activity across the entire reporting span.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Arcata Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The City of Arcata serves a community with a median household income of $79,703 and an estimated 48,986 residents across its service area. Approximately 71% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
City of Arcata's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
Infrastructure Risk
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in California
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
City of Arcata, (EPA ID: CA1210001) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 20,875 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00364 mg/L | No | N/A |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by CA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Arcata (CA1210001) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Arcata water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for City of Arcata in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.
How many people does City of Arcata serve?
City of Arcata serves approximately 20,875 people across 4 ZIP codes in California.
Where does City of Arcata get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Arcata, CA: Serves 21K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ca1210001/
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