Santa Barbara County, California — public water systems

How does Santa Barbara County compare with other California counties?

Santa Barbara County has the 17th-most active public water systems among the 201 counties listed for active California systems in EPA records; among the 72 with 3 or more systems, the median has 73. Its systems report 488,317 people served in total, the 17th-largest county figure in the state and 1.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,255 people, about 43% below the California average of 5,706. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Santa Barbara County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Santa Barbara County's active systems draw on groundwater (123, 82%), purchased surface water (12, 8%), surface water (11, 7.3%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (4, 2.7%). Overall, 85% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 15% on surface water, compared with 85% and 15% across California. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, City of Santa Maria Utilities Department, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Santa Barbara County?

Santa Barbara County's active systems break down as 63 community systems (42%), 23 non-transient non-community systems (15%) and 64 transient non-community systems (43%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. 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. EPA lists their owner types as private (81%), local government (16%), state government (2.7%) and federal government (0.7%).