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WaterVerge

Water quality report · updated Jul 2026

Is Lalamilo, HI Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A+ with no contaminants above EPA limits. Here's everything we tested and how Lalamilo ranks. What to do ↓

0 contaminants over a legal limit
0.0 ppb lead, 90th percentile · low
None unresolved violations
2K people served by 1 water system

PWSID HI0000160 · moderate data confidence · local government utility

Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated July 2026
A 97 / 100

#9 of 64Hawaii cities
How we grade →

01The verdict: is Lalamilo water safe?

Based on EPA testing data, Lalamilo's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A+ (97/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,895 residents using groundwater (wells).

The headline

Nothing over a legal limit

Every contaminant measured in Lalamilo's water is within its EPA limit, and no violations are unresolved.

See the testing ↓
The good news

Lead is well under the limit

90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.

See the trend ↓
Stay informed

Check back after the next refresh

EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.

Get alerts ↓

Lalamilo's drinking water received a grade of A+ (97 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,895 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.

Lalamilo ranks #9 out of 64 cities in Hawaii for water quality, placing it above average in the state. Lalamilo 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, Lalamilo may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

How the 97/100 breaks down Methodology →
ViolationsHistorical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
45 / 45A
Lead & CopperLead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
20 / 20A
ContaminantsPFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
17 / 20B
ComplianceMonitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
10 / 10A
Source RiskWater source: Groundwater.
5 / 5A

02What's in Lalamilo's water

Every contaminant flagged in Lalamilo, 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.

1 detection · sorted by % of legal limit
Over the limit Elevated — watch Within limits
0 50% LEGAL LIMIT 150%
1 contaminant tested under EPA SDWIS, LCR and UCMR programs · 1 detected · not yet tested for PFAS under UCMR 5

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

03Lalamilo'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 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.

All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Lalamilo.

UpdateWater quality data updatedLatest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Lalamilo's water quality assessment. Grade: A+ (97/100).
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Coliform (TCR).Resolved
Lead, 90th percentileppb · lower is better
05101520EPA action level · 15 ppb2001 — 5 ppb2004 — 5 ppb2007 — 5 ppb2012 — 0 ppb2013 — 0 ppb2019 — 0 ppb2020 — 0 ppb2023 — 0 ppb5020012007201320202023

Down 5 ppb since 2001. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2023) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

04Where Lalamilo's water comes from

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

Source

Groundwater

Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.

Treatment

Local treatment

Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.

Distribution

1 system

1 water system, operated under local government ownership.

Delivery

1,895 people

Residents served across Lalamilo's service area.

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 local government ownership and serves approximately 1,895 people through 1 water system.

System namePWSIDPopulationSource
LALAMILO HI0000160 1,895 Groundwater

Water bodies near Lalamilo

Wailuku River At Piihonua · river Honolii Stream Nr Papaikou · river

These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.

05How Lalamilo compares

Scores for nearby Hawaii cities on one line, with the average marked.

Mililani Bws
97.5 · A+
Lalamilo (this city)
97 · A+
Pearl Harbor
94.8 · A
Wailuku
91.4 · A

dashed line = Hawaii average (92/100)

Lalamilo scores 97/100on par with the Hawaii average of 92/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Hawaii rankings →

Hawaii water quality rankings
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.

06What to do at home

Steps matched to what testing actually found in Lalamilo's water — not generic advice.

Extra protection

A basic carbon filter still helps

Lalamilo'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 →
Know your report

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 →
Stay informed

Watch for Lalamilo alerts

We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.

All water alerts →

Frequently asked questions

Is Lalamilo, HI tap water safe to drink?

Lalamilo's water quality earned a grade of A+ (97/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #9 out of 64 cities tested in Hawaii.

What contaminants are in Lalamilo's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 1 violation is on record.

How is Lalamilo'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 Lalamilo?

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

Where does Lalamilo's water come from?

Lalamilo's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,895 residents.

Is Lalamilo's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Lalamilo 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 1 violation 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 Lalamilo's water compare to other cities?

Lalamilo ranks #9 out of 64 cities in Hawaii (better than 86% of state cities) and #103 out of 15382 cities nationally (99th percentile). The grade of A+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Lalamilo's small water system affect quality?

Lalamilo's system serves approximately 1,895 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 1 violation on record.

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About Lalamilo, HI: Hilo is the largest settlement in and the county seat of Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Island of Hawaiʻi, and is a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 census. It is the fourth-largest settlement in the state of Hawaiʻi, the largest settlement in the state outside of Oahu, and the largest settlement in the state outside of the Greater Honolulu Area. Wikipedia → Sources: EPA SDWIS & ECHO · UCMR 3–5 · Lead & Copper Rule samples · EPA TRI · U.S. Drought Monitor · FEMA declarations. Data last updated Jul 2026. Analysis by the WaterVerge Editorial Team · methodology.