Health Violations Found CA 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

City of Sonoma

EPA ID: CA4910012 · 11,725 people served · 2 ZIP codes

3 open EPA findings remain on record at City of Sonoma — the utility supplies approximately 11,725 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 70
Avg Safety Score
11,725
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0084 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
2
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$108,322
Median Household Income
35,139
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
69%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Sonoma serves a community with a median household income of $108,322 and an estimated 35,139 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.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Sonoma'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
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Sonoma County, California rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

53 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
17 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 76% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Sonoma compares to EPA limits

Barium 1 mg/L (50% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 2 mg/L

What This Means For You

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 6 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.0051 ppt, PFOS: 0.0065 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in California

B 2 violations
B 7 violations
0 violations
Ccwd - Ebbetts Pass
11,545 people
C 3 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,800
PFAS Treatment $600
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,700

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.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,700 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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 Sonoma, (EPA ID: CA4910012) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 11,725 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (70/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 3 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 2, 2025 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved

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 3 Yes
Barium Inorganic 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
95476 0.0084 mg/L No N/A

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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Sonoma (CA4910012) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Sonoma water safe to drink?

City of Sonoma has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does City of Sonoma serve?

City of Sonoma serves approximately 11,725 people across 2 ZIP codes in California.

Where does City of Sonoma get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(707) 933-2231
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
City Hall, #1 The Plaza, Sonoma, CA

Contact information from City of Sonoma Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Purchased from another utility
Treated water purchased wholesale from another water system.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: City of Sonoma Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from City of Sonoma Consumer Confidence Report:
In 2004, the City conducted a thorough Source Water Assessment of the City’s municipal groundwater wells. According to the assessments, all sites are in compliance with federal safe drinking water guidelines.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Sonoma Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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
348
Detections
4
Latest sample
1/16/2024
Highest analyte
PFOA: 6.2 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 6.2 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 6.1 ppt

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
483
Galvanized — Replacement Required
432
Unknown Material
3,641
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 11,725
Reported to California

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
7.64
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.33 ppm
Utility adds fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Total dissolved solids
172 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from City of Sonoma Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Sonoma safe to drink?
City of Sonoma earns a B safety grade with 4 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Sonoma's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 2 DBP Rule, Barium. 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 Sonoma serve?
City of Sonoma serves approximately 11,725 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is City of Sonoma's water source?
City of Sonoma draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Sonoma's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0084 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Sonoma's service area?
The City of Sonoma service area has a median household income of $108,322. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Sonoma get its water?
City of Sonoma'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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Sonoma (EPA ID: CA4910012) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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