Public water system · CA4410010
ActiveSanta Cruz Water Department
At a glance
Santa Cruz Water Department (PWSID CA4410010) is an active community water system in Santa Cruz County, California. It reports serving 94,626 people through 25,465 service connections. Its primary water source is 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 April 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
94,626
Service connections
25,465
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Santa Cruz Water Department compare with other water systems in Santa Cruz County?
By EPA's size categories, Santa Cruz Water Department is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Santa Cruz County has 96 active public water systems, and Santa Cruz Water Department is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 33 times the county average of 2,856 people per system, and accounts for 35% of the 274,204 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 Santa Cruz Water Department is about 14 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. 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 Santa Cruz Water Department?
EPA lists Santa Cruz 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. 16 of the 96 active systems in Santa Cruz County (17%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Santa Cruz 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 April 2016. The violations listed here began between July 1993 and April 2016. By type: 4 required treatment not met and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Surface Water Treatment Rule (5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-05-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-07-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | 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.
Santa Cruz Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Santa Cruz Water Department?
Santa Cruz Water Department (PWSID CA4410010) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Santa Cruz Water Department serve?
Santa Cruz Water Department reports serving 94,626 people through 25,465 service connections in Santa Cruz County, California.
Where does Santa Cruz Water Department 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 Santa Cruz 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 April 2016. 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 Santa Cruz 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 April 2016. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Santa Cruz Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, City of | Santa Cruz | 65,231 | Community | Surface water |
| Soquel Creek Water District | Santa Cruz | 40,809 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| San Lorenzo Valley Water Dist | Santa Cruz | 21,145 | Community | Surface water |
| Cabrillo College | Santa Cruz | 12,000 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Scotts Valley Water District | Santa Cruz | 11,197 | Community | Groundwater |
| Slvwd - Felton Water System | Santa Cruz | 4,340 | 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, “Santa Cruz Water Department, PWSID CA4410010, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/santa-cruz-water-department-ca4410010 (data as of October 1, 2026).