Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Hilo. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved July 2026, Hilo is served by 24 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 118,171 people.
As of July 2026, EPA records show 11 violations across the community water system(s) serving Hilo, going back to the earliest EPA record. 4 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in January 2000. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
North Kona
29,581 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000131
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2022. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
South Kohala
9,612 served · surface water · PWSID HI0000130
Monitoring Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times in August 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
South Kona
6,512 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000132
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Olaa-Mountain View
6,467 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000112
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
North Kohala
4,933 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000129
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Haina
4,563 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000161
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Waiohinu-Naalehu
2,948 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000108
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Papaikou
2,203 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000107
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Lalamilo
1,895 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000160
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Pahoa
1,885 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000111
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Pepeekeo
1,450 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000106
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Pahala
1,226 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000109
Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in July 2001. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Laupahoehoe-Kapehu
1,169 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000102
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Hawaiian Ocean View Estates
1,000 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000169
Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in September 2016. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Chlorine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2016. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Paauilo
716 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000134
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Honomu
645 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000105
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Kukuihaele
483 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000133
Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in July 2005. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Hakalau-Wailea
402 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000154
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Kalapana
275 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000110
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Ookala (Dws)
264 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000104
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Niulii
254 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000139
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Ninole
151 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000103
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
Pepeekeo Water Association
60 served · groundwater · PWSID HI0000167
Health-based Lead and Copper Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in January 2010. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved July 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.