Public water system · CA3700030
ActiveFry Creek / Observatory
At a glance
Fry Creek / Observatory (PWSID CA3700030) is an active transient non-community water system in San Diego County, California. It reports serving 66 people through 20 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by the federal government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
66
Service connections
20
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
TNCWS
Transient non-community water system
System record
How does Fry Creek / Observatory compare with other water systems in San Diego County?
By EPA's size categories, Fry Creek / Observatory is a very small system (500 people or fewer). San Diego County has 191 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 19,427 people per system, and accounts for less than 0.1% of the 3,710,459 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across California, the 7,479 active systems average 5,706 people each. Nationally, the average active transient non-community water system reports serving 144 people, so Fry Creek / Observatory is about half of that figure.
What does “transient non-community water system” mean?
A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. California has 3,016 active transient non-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 Fry Creek / Observatory?
EPA lists Fry Creek / Observatory as owned by the federal 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 191 active systems in San Diego County (8.4%) are also owned by the federal government.
Does Fry Creek / Observatory have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2015. The violations listed here began between January 2005 and November 2015. By type: 3 contaminant level above the legal limit and 3 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
All 6 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.
Fry Creek / Observatory: frequently asked questions
Who runs Fry Creek / Observatory?
Fry Creek / Observatory (PWSID CA3700030) is a transient non-community water system owned by the federal government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Fry Creek / Observatory serve?
Fry Creek / Observatory reports serving 66 people through 20 service connections in San Diego County, California.
Where does Fry Creek / Observatory 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 Fry Creek / Observatory have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2015. 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 Fry Creek / Observatory'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 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2015. For current results, consult EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Fry Creek / Observatory's water quality report?
The annual Consumer Confidence Report requirement applies to community water systems. Fry Creek / Observatory is a transient non-community water system, so it is not required to publish one; like every public water system, it must notify the people it serves about violations under EPA's public notification rules.
Other water systems in San Diego County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, City of | San Diego | 1,385,379 | Community | Surface water |
| Helix Water District | San Diego | 277,668 | Community | Surface water |
| Otay Water District | San Diego | 238,008 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Sweetwater Authority | San Diego | 191,282 | Community | Surface water |
| Oceanside, City of | San Diego | 171,483 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Escondido, City of | San Diego | 137,044 | Community | 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, “Fry Creek / Observatory, PWSID CA3700030, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/fry-creek-observatory-ca3700030 (data as of October 1, 2026).