Trinidad Head, the City of Trinidad and environs. | Photo by Ryan Burns.

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An emergency water shortage in Trinidad is coming to an end as municipal storage tanks slowly but surely refill and lab test results came back clean, city staff announced Wednesday evening. 

Residents had been been advised to conserve water and boil any they consume after a large water main leak was discovered on Scenic Drive Saturday morning. The leak quickly and thoroughly drained the city’s 400,000-gallon storage tank, causing low pressure and outages, especially at higher elevations.

The boil-water notice was lifted after the State Water Resources Control Board determined the city’s supply is once again safe to drink.

Residents are still being asked to conserve water, report leaks and sign up for emergency alerts to stay informed.

“Water production at the Treatment Plant continues to increased due to favorable and improving weather conditions over the past 36 hours, and an incredible response from the Trinidad Public Works Department,” the city announced on its website. “After 3 days of recovery and supplemental water trucked in by a convoy of delivery vehicles, storage tanks are nearing 40% capacity (8 feet of water in two tanks that peak at 18’ when full capacity is reached), gaining nearly 1 foot each day.”

The Trinidad Chamber of Commerce was duly chuffed and issued the following press release about restaurants reopening:

Trinidad’s restaurants are welcoming residents and visitors back as local dining establishments reopen following the official cancellation of the citywide Boil Water Notice that was issued on January 3, 2026.

At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the City of Trinidad was notified by Microbac Laboratories in Arcata that a second round of water quality testing returned clean results. Five water samples taken from various locations throughout the city’s water distribution system showed no bacterial contamination. Based on these findings, the Boil Water Notice was officially cancelled effective 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

With the notice lifted, affected restaurants are back open and ready to serve the public, including Trinidad Bay Eatery & Gallery, Moonstone Crossing Winery, Beachcomber Cafe, Headies Pizza & Pour, Lighthouse Grill, and Seascape Restaurant & Pier. The reopening marks a return to normal operations for businesses that are central to Trinidad’s local economy.

The Boil Water Notice was issued as a required public safety measure following a significant loss of water pressure caused by a water main leak on Scenic Drive in the early morning hours of January 3. The incident resulted in the depletion of the City’s water storage tanks and required emergency repairs, system flushing, and water quality testing in accordance with State Water Resources Control Board regulations.

City of Trinidad water staff worked continuously to repair the leak, restore service, flush the distribution system, and coordinate emergency and follow-up testing with the Humboldt County Health Department. The clean results from the second round of testing confirm that the water meets state drinking water standards.

While mandatory water conservation remains in effect as the City continues to rebuild water storage levels, restaurants have been cleared to reopen and operate.

The public is encouraged to visit Trinidad, enjoy local dining options, and support the restaurants that are central to the city’s North Coast experience. For more information, visit: https://www.trinidad.ca.gov/water/page/emergency-water-shortage-alert-01-05-2026