Public water system · CA4410018
ActiveCentral Water District
At a glance
Central Water District (PWSID CA4410018) is an active community water system in Santa Cruz County, California. It reports serving 2,726 people through 826 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2014.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,726
Service connections
826
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Central Water District compare with other water systems in Santa Cruz County?
By EPA's size categories, Central Water District is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Santa Cruz County has 96 active public water systems. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 2,856 people per system, and accounts for 1% of the 274,204 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across California, the 7,479 active systems average 5,706 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Central Water District is about 59% below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. California has 2,997 active community water systems, 40% of the state's 7,479 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 6,179 California systems (83%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Central Water District?
EPA lists Central Water District as owned by a local government. The CA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 16 of the 96 active systems in Santa Cruz County (17%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Central Water District have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2014. The violations listed here began between July 2001 and May 2014. By type: 3 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (2 of them). EPA lists 4 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
All 4 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Central Water District: frequently asked questions
Who runs Central Water District?
Central Water District (PWSID CA4410018) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Central Water District serve?
Central Water District reports serving 2,726 people through 826 service connections in Santa Cruz County, California.
Where does Central Water District get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Central Water District have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2014. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Central Water District's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in May 2014. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Central Water District's water quality report?
As a community water system, Central Water District must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Santa Cruz County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Water Department | Santa Cruz | 94,626 | Community | Surface water |
| Watsonville, City of | Santa Cruz | 65,231 | Community | Surface water |
| Soquel Creek Water District | Santa Cruz | 40,809 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| San Lorenzo Valley Water Dist | Santa Cruz | 21,145 | Community | Surface water |
| Cabrillo College | Santa Cruz | 12,000 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Scotts Valley Water District | Santa Cruz | 11,197 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Central Water District, PWSID CA4410018, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/central-water-district-ca4410018 (data as of October 1, 2026).