Public water system · CA3710025
ActiveSweetwater Authority
At a glance
Sweetwater Authority (PWSID CA3710025) is an active community water system in San Diego County, California. It reports serving 191,282 people through 33,614 service connections. Its primary water source is 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 August 2010.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
191,282
Service connections
33,614
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Sweetwater Authority compare with other water systems in San Diego County?
By EPA's size categories, Sweetwater Authority is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). San Diego County has 191 active public water systems, and Sweetwater Authority is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 9.8 times the county average of 19,427 people per system, and accounts for 5.2% 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 Sweetwater Authority is about 29 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 Sweetwater Authority?
EPA lists Sweetwater Authority 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. 58 of the 191 active systems in San Diego County (30%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Sweetwater Authority have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2010. By type: 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved is Chlorite. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Chloritecode 1009 | 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.
Sweetwater Authority: frequently asked questions
Who runs Sweetwater Authority?
Sweetwater Authority (PWSID CA3710025) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does Sweetwater Authority serve?
Sweetwater Authority reports serving 191,282 people through 33,614 service connections in San Diego County, California.
Where does Sweetwater Authority 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 Sweetwater Authority have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list one violation for this system; it is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2010. 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 Sweetwater Authority'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 August 2010. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Sweetwater Authority's water quality report?
As a community water system, Sweetwater Authority 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 |
| Oceanside, City of | San Diego | 171,483 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Escondido, City of | San Diego | 137,044 | Community | Surface water |
| Vista Irrigation District | San Diego | 132,430 | 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, “Sweetwater Authority, PWSID CA3710025, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/sweetwater-authority-ca3710025 (data as of October 1, 2026).