Public water system · CA1510020
ActiveTehachapi, City of
At a glance
City of Tehachapi (PWSID CA1510020) is an active community water system in Kern County, California. It reports serving 9,094 people through 3,274 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
9,094
Service connections
3,274
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Tehachapi compare with other water systems in Kern County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Tehachapi is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Kern County has 327 active public water systems. Its population served is about 190% above the county average of 3,140 people per system, and accounts for 0.9% of the 1,026,649 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 City of Tehachapi is about 36% 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 6,179 California systems (83%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Tehachapi?
EPA lists City of Tehachapi 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. 48 of the 327 active systems in Kern County (15%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Tehachapi have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between May 1992 and October 2024. By type: 7 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 monitoring and reporting, 1 required treatment not met and 1 reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (8 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved and 2 as unaddressed. 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. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Unaddressed |
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2022-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2003-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-03-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 11 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.
City of Tehachapi: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Tehachapi?
City of Tehachapi (PWSID CA1510020) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CA state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Tehachapi serve?
City of Tehachapi reports serving 9,094 people through 3,274 service connections in Kern County, California.
Where does City of Tehachapi get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does City of Tehachapi have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 City of Tehachapi'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 11 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 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 City of Tehachapi's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Tehachapi 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 Kern County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cws - Bakersfield | Kern | 267,881 | Community | Surface water |
| Bakersfield, City of | Kern | 160,144 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Delano, City of | Kern | 51,428 | Community | Groundwater |
| Oildale Mwc | Kern | 44,899 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Indian Wells Valley W.D. | Kern | 41,580 | Community | Groundwater |
| Tejon Castac Wd - I5 & Laval Rd | Kern | 38,125 | 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, “Tehachapi, City of, PWSID CA1510020, California”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/california/tehachapi-city-of-ca1510020 (data as of October 1, 2026).