Public water system · CA3310005
ActiveDesert Water Agency
At a glance
Desert Water Agency (PWSID CA3310005) is an active community water system in Riverside County, California. It reports serving 74,807 people through 23,885 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
74,807
Service connections
23,885
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Desert Water Agency compare with other water systems in Riverside County?
By EPA's size categories, Desert Water Agency is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Riverside County has 197 active public water systems. Its population served is about 5.2 times the county average of 14,435 people per system, and accounts for 2.6% of the 2,843,721 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 Desert Water Agency is about 11 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 Desert Water Agency?
EPA lists Desert Water Agency 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. 50 of the 197 active systems in Riverside County (25%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Desert Water Agency have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. The violations listed here began between October 1992 and January 2018. By type: 3 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine (IDSE) · code 30 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-02-14 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Uraniumcode 4006 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-09-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, State · code 05 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1994-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-06-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 8 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.
Desert Water Agency: frequently asked questions
Who runs Desert Water Agency?
Desert Water Agency (PWSID CA3310005) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Desert Water Agency serve?
Desert Water Agency reports serving 74,807 people through 23,885 service connections in Riverside County, California.
Where does Desert Water Agency 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 Desert Water Agency have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. 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 Desert Water Agency'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 8 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Desert Water Agency's water quality report?
As a community water system, Desert Water Agency 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 Riverside County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Municipal Wd | Riverside | 666,581 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Riverside, City of | Riverside | 298,398 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| Coachella Vwd: Cove Community | Riverside | 270,000 | Community | Groundwater |
| Elsinore Valley Mwd | Riverside | 169,455 | Community | Surface water |
| Corona, City of | Riverside | 168,575 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Rancho California Water District | Riverside | 146,147 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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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, “Desert Water Agency, PWSID CA3310005, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/desert-water-agency-ca3310005 (data as of October 1, 2026).