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Pala North

PWS ID: 090605153 · Pala, 09 92059

Pala North serves 14,280 people in Pala, 09 using Groundwater water sources. It has 43 recorded EPA violations, including 19 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (5 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: Pala North

Pala North is a native american-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 14,280 residents in Pala, 09 through 400 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 43 total violations for this system , of which 19 (44%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 5 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Groundwater Rule, recorded in 12 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 12 ppt. PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across 09, EPA tracks 323 public water systems serving 555,721 people, with 48,296 cumulative violations and 3,354 health-based violations on record. About 97% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 149.5 violations. Pala North's 43 violations sit below the 09 average. Statewide, 30 of 41 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (73.2%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
14,280
Total Violations
43
Health-Based Violations
19
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Native American
Connections
400
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
7
Monitoring Violations
5
Treatment Tech Violations
12

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Groundwater Rule TT 12 2019
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 2010
Nitrate MR 2 2022
Nitrate MCL 1 2025
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 2002
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 2016
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 1 2025

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 18 of 240 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFNA 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/19/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/19/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/19/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/19/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 8/19/2024 9.9000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
PFHpS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 8/19/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 8/19/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/19/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/19/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/19/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/19/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 8/19/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/19/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 8/19/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Pala North.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID 090605153 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

09 Drinking Water Authority

09's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find 09 regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Nitrate MCL 1 SDWIS / 090605153 / 1040
2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 1 SDWIS / 090605153 / 8000
2022 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / 090605153 / 1040
2019 Groundwater Rule TT 12 SDWIS / 090605153 / 0700
2016 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / 090605153 / 5000
2010 Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 SDWIS / 090605153 / 3100
2002 Coliform (TCR) MR 1 SDWIS / 090605153 / 3100

How Pala North Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Pala North 09 avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 43 149.5 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 19 10.4 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 73.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 14,280 1,720 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 323 regulated public water systems in 09.

Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pala North water safe to drink? ▼
Pala North (PWS ID: 090605153) has 43 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 14,280 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Pala North serve? ▼
Pala North serves 14,280 people in Pala, 09. It is a Native American-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 400 service connections.
What type of violations does Pala North have? ▼
Pala North has 43 total violations: 19 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 5 monitoring/reporting violations, and 12 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Pala North water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Pala North's water supply: lithium, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBS, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Pala North use? ▼
Pala North uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial