WaterVerge

Is Fagasa, AS Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded B, with 5 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

577 residents served 1 water system PWSID: AS9711356
Overall Score
77.6 / 100
Violations
5 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#1 of 2 in American Samoa Top 57% nationally
State
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
BGRADE
Water Quality Grade
77.6/100
waterverge.com
B 77.6/100

Fagasa, AS — Water Quality Report

Fagasa's drinking water received a grade of B (77.6 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 577 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.7 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 35 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Fagasa's water

Fagasa ranks #1 out of 2 cities in American Samoa for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state.

Fagasa relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Fagasa may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 11 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
77.6 out of 100 Grade B
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
28.6/45
C
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
19/20
A
Lead at 0.7 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Fagasa, AS water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Fagasa's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B (77.6/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 577 residents using groundwater (wells).

5
Active Violations
0.7 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Fagasa

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Fagasa's water quality assessment. Grade: B (77.6/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Asbestos.

Violation
5 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Gross Beta Particle Activity, Nitrate.

Violation
3 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Nitrate, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Fagasa's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.7 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Fagasa's water system has 35 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved. 11 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MROther
Most recent violations:
Apr 2025 Asbestos Resolved
Jan 2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved
Jan 2025 Gross Beta Particle Activity Resolved
Jan 2025 Nitrate Resolved
Jan 2025 TTHM Resolved

Where does Fagasa's water come from?

Fagasa's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 577 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Fagasa residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Fagasa's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.7 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 5% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

35
Total violations
0
Health-based
5
Active / unresolved
Apr 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

35 Total
5 Active
0 Health-based
30 Resolved
8 SNC
Violations by category
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
10
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
10
Nitrate Rule
4
Consumer Confidence Rule
4
Inorganic Chemicals
2
Jul 2022 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2021 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2019 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2018 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Apr 2025 Resolved
Asbestos
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 2025
Jan 2025 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2025 Resolved
Gross Beta Particle Activity
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2025 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2025 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Jan 2025 Resolved
Asbestos
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 2025
Jan 2023 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2023
Jan 2023 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2023
Jan 2023 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2023
Jan 2019 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2019
Jan 2017 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Jan 2017 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Jan 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Jan 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Jan 2017 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
SNC Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Showing 20 of 35 violations

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.7 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 0.1 ppb from 2009 (0.7 ppb) to 2016 (0.7 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
State
Population Served
577
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Fagasa's water comes from

Groundwater

Fagasa's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by state ownership and serves approximately 577 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Fagasa

System Name PWSID Population Source
Fagasa ASG AS9711356 577 GW
Regional Comparison

How Fagasa compares

Full American Samoa rankings →

Fagasa's score of 77.6/100 is above the average of 42/100 among major American Samoa cities. It outscores 1 of 1 nearby cities.

Fagasa (this city)
77.6
Tutuila
42
American Samoa avg
42
City Profile

About Fagasa, AS

Wikipedia →

Pago Pago is the capital of American Samoa. It is in Maoputasi County on Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Fagasa, AS tap water safe to drink?

Fagasa's water quality earned a grade of B (77.6/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #1 out of 2 cities tested in American Samoa.

What contaminants are in Fagasa's water?

Lead was measured at 0.7 ppb (90th percentile). 35 violations are on record.

How is Fagasa's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Fagasa?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Fagasa's water come from?

Fagasa's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 577 residents.

Is Fagasa's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Fagasa uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 35 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Fagasa's water compare to other cities?

Fagasa ranks #1 out of 2 cities in American Samoa (better than 50% of state cities) and #8948 out of 15744 cities nationally (43th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Fagasa's small water system affect quality?

Fagasa's system serves approximately 577 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 35 violations on record.