Is Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge water safe to drink?

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge (PWS ID: CA0900659) has 137 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 1,940 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge serves 1,940 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Twin Bridges or any other city). It is a Private-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 5 service connections. The operator address is listed in Twin Bridges, California.

What type of violations does Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge have?

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge has 137 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 110 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge's water supply: PFOA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge use?

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Non-Transient Non-Community Water System, serving the same people for at least 6 months per year.

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.

Where does Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge ranks #13,893 of 29,740 by people served, and #917 of 1,701 in California. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge's violation count compare nationally?

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge has 137 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 20% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 79% of that cohort has fewer violations than Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → California

Non-Transient Non-Community Water System · PWS CA0900659

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge

Operator location Twin Bridges, California - UCMR5 detected 2 PFAS compounds (lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds)) on this PWS; SDWIS lists 137 violations and 1,940 people served.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

1,940
People served (this PWS) Middle third of systems: 137
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 2
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 2 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Lower third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge standing, high SDWIS violation third

UCMR5 detected 2 PFAS compounds - lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 1% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds). Population rank #13,893 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (137), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is mid-pack at 1,940 (mid served population (≤ 3,309)). Health-based share is 1% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 2 PFAS compounds (lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds)).

#13,893 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #917 of 1,701
Population · CA: 137
Total EPA violations on record: 1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

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

C-

Water Safety Score

50/100

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations C-

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

135

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination A-

0.0050 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Non-Transient Non-Community
Owner Type: Private
Connections: 5
County: El Dorado
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 2
Monitoring Violations: 110
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	6	2023
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	2	1997
Endrin	MR	2	2017
BHC-GAMMA	MR	2	2017
Toxaphene	MR	2	2017
Dalapon	MR	2	2017
Diquat	MR	2	2017
Endothall	MR	2	2017
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	2	2017
OXAMYL	MR	2	2017
Simazine	MR	2	2017
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	MR	2	2017
Carbofuran	MR	2	2017
2,4-D	MR	2	2017
HEXACHLOROBENZENE	MR	2	2017
Pentachlorophenol	MR	2	2017
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE	MR	2	2017
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE	MR	2	2017
Chlordane	MR	2	2017
Xylenes, Total	MR	2	2017
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	2017
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	2	2017
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	2	2017
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	2	2017
Benzene	MR	2	2017
Styrene	MR	2	2017
Nitrate	MR	2	2023
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	2	2017
Picloram	MR	2	2017
LASSO	MR	2	2017

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge has 137 recorded EPA violations, 79% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 20% carry more. 1% of this system's own violations are health-based (2 of 137), and it ranks #13,893 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

137 Higher than most more violations than 79% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge: 137 violations, 1% health-based (this system)
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFOA	8/2/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	8/2/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	8/2/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	8/2/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	8/2/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/2/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	8/2/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/2/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/2/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	8/2/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	8/2/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	8/2/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	8/2/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	8/2/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	8/2/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	8/2/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	8/2/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	8/2/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	1/10/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	1/10/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	1/10/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	1/10/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	1/10/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	1/10/2023	5.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFHxA	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	1/10/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	1/10/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	1/10/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	1/10/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	1/10/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	1/10/2023	3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
4:2 FTS	1/10/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	1/10/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	1/10/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected

UCMR5 PFAS record for Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge

Open EPA SDWIS federal reports for PWS CA0900659 to cross-check UCMR5 detections and violation codes; state primacy agencies enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act locally.

EPA SDWIS · PWS CA0900659 CA primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water

Nationwide peers

137 violations · 1,940 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems near this population served

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Sierra Tahoe Main Lodge

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in California compares on the same EPA violation measures. California systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.