Public water system · CA4300909
ActiveLick Observatory-Ucsc
At a glance
Lick Observatory-Ucsc (PWSID CA4300909) is an active community water system in Santa Clara County, California. It reports serving 284 people through 29 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a state government. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in March 2018.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
284
Service connections
29
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Lick Observatory-Ucsc compare with other water systems in Santa Clara County?
By EPA's size categories, Lick Observatory-Ucsc is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Santa Clara County has 121 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 17,334 people per system, and accounts for less than 0.1% of the 2,097,447 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 Lick Observatory-Ucsc is well 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. 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 Lick Observatory-Ucsc?
EPA lists Lick Observatory-Ucsc as owned by a state 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. 3 of the 121 active systems in Santa Clara County (2.5%) are also owned by a state government.
Does Lick Observatory-Ucsc have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in March 2018. The violations listed here began between January 1992 and March 2018. By type: 2 required treatment not met, 1 monitoring and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Surface Water Treatment Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 3 as resolved and 1 as archived. 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. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Additional Routine (RTCR) · code 3B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Archived |
| 1995-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-09-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Required treatment not metFailure to Filter (SWTR) · code 42 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | 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.
Lick Observatory-Ucsc: frequently asked questions
Who runs Lick Observatory-Ucsc?
Lick Observatory-Ucsc (PWSID CA4300909) is a community water system owned by a state government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Lick Observatory-Ucsc serve?
Lick Observatory-Ucsc reports serving 284 people through 29 service connections in Santa Clara County, California.
Where does Lick Observatory-Ucsc 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 Lick Observatory-Ucsc have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in March 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 Lick Observatory-Ucsc'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; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in March 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 Lick Observatory-Ucsc's water quality report?
As a community water system, Lick Observatory-Ucsc 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 Clara County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Water | Santa Clara | 1,039,920 | Community | Surface water |
| City of Sunnyvale | Santa Clara | 157,566 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| City of Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 130,746 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Great Oaks Wc Inc. | Santa Clara | 110,088 | Community | Groundwater |
| City of San Jose - Evg/Edv/Coy | Santa Clara | 101,265 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| City of Milpitas | Santa Clara | 81,773 | 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, “Lick Observatory-Ucsc, PWSID CA4300909, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/lick-observatory-ucsc-ca4300909 (data as of October 1, 2026).