Public water system · CA1510003
ActiveCws - Bakersfield
At a glance
Cws - Bakersfield (PWSID CA1510003) is an active community water system in Kern County, California. It reports serving 267,881 people through 65,415 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as privately owned. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2010.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
267,881
Service connections
65,415
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Cws - Bakersfield compare with other water systems in Kern County?
By EPA's size categories, Cws - Bakersfield is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Kern County has 327 active public water systems, and Cws - Bakersfield is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 85 times the county average of 3,140 people per system, and accounts for 26% of the 1,026,649 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 Cws - Bakersfield is about 40 times 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 609 California systems (8.1%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Cws - Bakersfield?
EPA lists Cws - Bakersfield as privately owned. 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. 263 of the 327 active systems in Kern County (80%) are also privately owned.
Does Cws - Bakersfield have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2010. The violations listed here began between September 1992 and January 2010. By type: 3 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Cws - Bakersfield: frequently asked questions
Who runs Cws - Bakersfield?
Cws - Bakersfield (PWSID CA1510003) is a community water system privately owned. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Cws - Bakersfield serve?
Cws - Bakersfield reports serving 267,881 people through 65,415 service connections in Kern County, California.
Where does Cws - Bakersfield get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Cws - Bakersfield have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2010. 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 Cws - Bakersfield'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; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2010. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Cws - Bakersfield's water quality report?
As a community water system, Cws - Bakersfield 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 Kern County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, City of | Kern | 160,144 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Delano, City of | Kern | 51,428 | Community | Groundwater |
| Oildale Mwc | Kern | 44,899 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Indian Wells Valley W.D. | Kern | 41,580 | Community | Groundwater |
| Tejon Castac Wd - I5 & Laval Rd | Kern | 38,125 | Community | Surface water |
| Vaughn Wc Inc. | Kern | 37,189 | 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, “Cws - Bakersfield, PWSID CA1510003, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/cws-bakersfield-ca1510003 (data as of October 1, 2026).