Public water system · CA3010042
ActiveSouth Coast Water District
At a glance
South Coast Water District (PWSID CA3010042) is an active community water system in Orange County, California. It reports serving 41,118 people through 13,398 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2000.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
41,118
Service connections
13,398
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does South Coast Water District compare with other water systems in Orange County?
By EPA's size categories, South Coast Water District is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Orange County has 46 active public water systems. Its population served is about 41% below the county average of 69,606 people per system, and accounts for 1.3% of the 3,201,893 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 South Coast Water District is about 6.1 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. 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 South Coast Water District?
EPA lists South Coast Water District 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. 34 of the 46 active systems in Orange County (74%) are also owned by a local government.
Does South Coast Water District have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2000. By type: 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved is Total coliform bacteria (TCR). EPA lists 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
The one violation in EPA's records.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.
South Coast Water District: frequently asked questions
Who runs South Coast Water District?
South Coast Water District (PWSID CA3010042) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does South Coast Water District serve?
South Coast Water District reports serving 41,118 people through 13,398 service connections in Orange County, California.
Where does South Coast Water District 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 South Coast Water District have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2000. 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 South Coast Water District'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 one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2000. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find South Coast Water District's water quality report?
As a community water system, South Coast Water District 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 Orange County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine Ranch Water District | Orange | 444,800 | Community | Surface water |
| City of Anaheim | Orange | 348,593 | Community | Surface water |
| City of Santa Ana | Orange | 310,539 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| City of Huntington Beach | Orange | 201,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| City of Garden Grove | Orange | 174,226 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Moulton Niguel Water District | Orange | 170,236 | 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, “South Coast Water District, PWSID CA3010042, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/south-coast-water-district-ca3010042 (data as of October 1, 2026).