Public water system · CA1310006
ActiveImperial, City of
At a glance
City of Imperial (PWSID CA1310006) is an active community water system in Imperial County, California. It reports serving 21,591 people through 6,939 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
21,591
Service connections
6,939
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Imperial compare with other water systems in Imperial County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Imperial is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Imperial County has 76 active public water systems, and City of Imperial is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 8.8 times the county average of 2,444 people per system, and accounts for 12% of the 185,748 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 City of Imperial is about 3.2 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 506 California systems (6.8%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Imperial?
EPA lists City of Imperial 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. 19 of the 76 active systems in Imperial County (25%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Imperial have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between July 2016 and October 2024. By type: 6 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 required treatment not met, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 1 reporting and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (6 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 as addressed. 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. Addressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Addressed |
| 2024-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-05-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (LT2) · code 32 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0800 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-10-31 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
The 12 most recent 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.
City of Imperial: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Imperial?
City of Imperial (PWSID CA1310006) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Imperial serve?
City of Imperial reports serving 21,591 people through 6,939 service connections in Imperial County, California.
Where does City of Imperial get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does City of Imperial have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. 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 City of Imperial'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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Imperial's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Imperial 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 Imperial County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, City of | Imperial | 43,772 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Calexico, City of | Imperial | 40,357 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Brawley, City of | Imperial | 26,862 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | 8,150 | Non-transient non-community | Surface water |
| Gswc - Calipatria | Imperial | 7,363 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Heber Public Utility District | Imperial | 6,979 | 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, “Imperial, City of, PWSID CA1310006, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/imperial-city-of-ca1310006 (data as of October 1, 2026).