Public water system · CA3702236
ActivePalomar Observatory
At a glance
Palomar Observatory (PWSID CA3702236) is an active community water system in San Diego County, California. It reports serving 4,416 people through 26 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a state government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in November 2022.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
4,416
Service connections
26
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Palomar Observatory compare with other water systems in San Diego County?
By EPA's size categories, Palomar Observatory is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). 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 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 community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Palomar Observatory is about 34% 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. 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 Palomar Observatory?
EPA lists Palomar Observatory 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. 16 of the 191 active systems in San Diego County (8.4%) are also owned by a state government.
Does Palomar Observatory have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in November 2022. The violations listed here began between September 1983 and November 2022. By type: 6 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 3 monitoring and reporting, 2 monitoring and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (3 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved and 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-11-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-10-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1984-09-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1984-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1984-06-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1984-04-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1983-12-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
| 1983-09-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
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.
Palomar Observatory: frequently asked questions
Who runs Palomar Observatory?
Palomar Observatory (PWSID CA3702236) is a community water system owned by a state government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Palomar Observatory serve?
Palomar Observatory reports serving 4,416 people through 26 service connections in San Diego County, California.
Where does Palomar 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 Palomar Observatory have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in November 2022. 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 Palomar 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in November 2022. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Palomar Observatory's water quality report?
As a community water system, Palomar Observatory 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 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, “Palomar Observatory, PWSID CA3702236, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/palomar-observatory-ca3702236 (data as of October 1, 2026).