Water System Report CA

City of Cotati

EPA ID: CA4910016 · 7,303 people served · 6 ZIP codes

Although compliance varies widely among water utilities nationally, City of Cotati stands out with zero EPA violations over five consecutive monitoring years, delivering safe tap water to 7,303 residents and showing no enforcement activity across the entire reporting span.

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

A · 95
Avg Safety Score
7,303
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0048 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$892K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$106,440
Median Household Income
163,473
Service Area Population
8%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
66%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Cotati serves a community with a median household income of $106,440 and an estimated 163,473 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% 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 Cotati'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.

Moderate 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

47 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 68% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 3 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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

City of Gridley
7,269 people
A 3 violations
Gswc - Calipatria
7,363 people
C 0 violations
Awa, Ione
7,227 people
C 3 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Lead Pipe Replacement Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,300
Lead Pipe Replacement $680
Water Filtration $100
PFAS Treatment $100
Total Estimated Cost $2,180

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,180 (one-time) vs. $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 Cotati, (EPA ID: CA4910016) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 7,303 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 6 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: A (95/100)

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

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
94931 0.0048 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: 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 Cotati (CA4910016) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Cotati water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Cotati has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Cotati serve?

City of Cotati serves approximately 7,303 people across 6 ZIP codes in California.

Where does City of Cotati 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
707.792.4600
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
201 West Sierra Avenue Cotati, CA 94931-4217

Contact information from City of Cotati 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
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorinesodium hydroxide

Source: City of Cotati 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 Cotati Consumer Confidence Report:
In March 2003, the California Department of Health Services conducted a source water assessment of Cotati’s groundwater wells. Vulnerabilities identified include: Well 1A (most vulnerable to sewer leaks and confirmed leaking underground storage tanks), Well 2 (vulnerable to sewer leaks), Well 3 (vulnerable to confirmed leaking underground storage tanks).

Treatment regime

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

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

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
pH adjustment
Raises or lowers water acidity to protect pipes and improve treatment performance.
sodium hydroxide

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Sewer collection systemsLeaking underground storage tanks

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Cotati 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: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
290

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
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
3,208
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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: 7,303
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Cotati safe to drink?
City of Cotati earns a A safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Cotati meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Cotati serve?
City of Cotati serves approximately 7,303 people with drinking water across 6 ZIP codes.
What is City of Cotati's water source?
City of Cotati draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Cotati's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0048 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Cotati's service area?
The City of Cotati service area has a median household income of $106,440. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Cotati get its water?
City of Cotati'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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