01The verdict: is Garberville water safe?
Garberville's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B- (70.9/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 2,180 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
17 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.5 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓10 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Garberville's drinking water received a grade of B- (70.9 out of 100), indicating fair water quality. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 2,180 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.5 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 58 violations on record, including 8 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved.
Garberville ranks #503 out of 690 cities in California for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Garberville may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 10 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Garberville's water
Every contaminant flagged in Garberville, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.5 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in California
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in California
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Garberville's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 58 violations on record, including 8 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved.
2 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▲ Up 0.50 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0.50 ppb (2025) — 3% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Garberville's water comes from
Garberville's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
3 systems
3 water systems, operated under private ownership.
2,180 people
Residents served across Garberville's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 2,180 people through 3 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARBERVILLE SANITARY DISTRICT | CA1210008 | 2,041 | Surface Water |
| BRICELAND C.S.D. | CA1200587 | 75 | Surface Water |
| PALOMINO ESTATES WATER COMPANY | CA1206002 | 64 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Garberville
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Garberville's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Garberville's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Humboldt County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Humboldt County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Garberville compares
Scores for nearby California cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = California average (57/100)
Garberville scores 70.9/100 — above the California average of 57/100. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities. Full California rankings →
42.8 / 100FSan Jose, CA
28 / 100BOakland, CA
77.9 / 100FSan Diego, CA
39.7 / 100FSacramento, CA
31.2 / 100ABurlingame, CA
89.2 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Garberville's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Garberville's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Garberville alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Garberville, CA tap water safe to drink?
Garberville's water quality earned a grade of B- (70.9/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #503 out of 690 cities tested in California.
What contaminants are in Garberville's water?
Lead was measured at 0.5 ppb (90th percentile). 58 violations are on record.
How is Garberville'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 Garberville?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Garberville's water come from?
Garberville's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 3 water systems serving approximately 2,180 residents.
What health violations has Garberville's water system had?
Garberville has 8 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 17 violations remain unresolved.
How does Garberville's water compare to other cities?
Garberville ranks #503 out of 690 cities in California (better than 27% of state cities) and #10510 out of 15382 cities nationally (32th percentile). The grade of B- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.