Current Health-Based Noncompliance CA 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

City of Alturas

EPA ID: CA2510001 ยท 2,715 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Alturas (CA2510001): 2 unresolved EPA violations on record. Current EPA status: City of Alturas, 2 open violations, 2,715 people served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

2,715
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00081 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk ยท Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$192K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Alturas Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$57,117
Median Household Income
4,868
Service Area Population
100%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
69%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Alturas serves a community with a median household income of $57,117 and an estimated 4,868 residents across its service area. Approximately 69% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 100% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Alturas'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

54 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
16 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 77% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Alturas compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in California

Fcwwd 41/shaver Lake
2,722 people
0 violations
Central Water District
2,726 people
0 violations
0 violations
0 violations
City of Weed
2,662 people
2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Water Filtration
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $300

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $300 (one-time) vs. $5,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Alturas (EPA ID: CA2510001) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 2,715 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 96101 in Alturas.

Violation History

1 current health-based noncompliance record in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 2 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unaddressed (current)
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.00081 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.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Alturas (CA2510001) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Alturas water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current health-based noncompliance record for City of Alturas. Review the utility's current notices and EPA record. This system-level compliance history cannot determine conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does City of Alturas serve?

City of Alturas serves approximately 2,715 people across 1 ZIP code in California.

Where does City of Alturas get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
232
Detections
1
Latest sample
2/11/2025
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 3.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 3.5 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

What contaminants are in City of Alturas's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 2 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Alturas serve?
City of Alturas serves approximately 2,715 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is City of Alturas's water source?
City of Alturas draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Alturas's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00081 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Alturas's service area?
The City of Alturas service area has a median household income of $57,117. EPA EJScreen data classifies 100% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Alturas get its water?
City of Alturas'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. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Alturas (CA): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ca2510001/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ca2510001,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{City of Alturas (CA): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ca2510001/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

City of Alturas (EPA ID: CA2510001) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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