Public water system · CA4010008
ActivePismo Beach Water Department
At a glance
Pismo Beach Water Department (PWSID CA4010008) is an active community water system in San Luis Obispo County, California. It reports serving 8,036 people through 5,335 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
8,036
Service connections
5,335
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Pismo Beach Water Department compare with other water systems in San Luis Obispo County?
By EPA's size categories, Pismo Beach Water Department is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). San Luis Obispo County has 171 active public water systems. Its population served is about 3.9 times the county average of 2,038 people per system, and accounts for 2.3% of the 348,510 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 Pismo Beach Water Department is about 20% above 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 Pismo Beach Water Department?
EPA lists Pismo Beach Water Department 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. 33 of the 171 active systems in San Luis Obispo County (19%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Pismo Beach Water Department have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2024. The violations listed here began between May 1993 and January 2024. By type: 4 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (3 of them). EPA lists 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 5 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.
Pismo Beach Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Pismo Beach Water Department?
Pismo Beach Water Department (PWSID CA4010008) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Pismo Beach Water Department serve?
Pismo Beach Water Department reports serving 8,036 people through 5,335 service connections in San Luis Obispo County, California.
Where does Pismo Beach Water Department 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 Pismo Beach Water Department have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 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 Pismo Beach Water Department'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 5 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 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 Pismo Beach Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Pismo Beach Water Department 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 Luis Obispo County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Margarita Recreation Area | San Luis Obispo | 50,001 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| San Luis Obispo Water Department | San Luis Obispo | 47,788 | Community | Surface water |
| City of Paso Robles Water Division | San Luis Obispo | 31,176 | Community | Surface water |
| Atascadero Mutual Water Co | San Luis Obispo | 30,618 | Community | Groundwater |
| City of Arroyo Grande Utilities Division | San Luis Obispo | 17,963 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| California Mens Colony | San Luis Obispo | 15,000 | 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, “Pismo Beach Water Department, PWSID CA4010008, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/pismo-beach-water-department-ca4010008 (data as of October 1, 2026).