The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) Small Drinking Water Systems program's purpose is to protect public health by preventing water-borne disease, identifying risks of bacterial, chemical and/or radiological contamination, conducting inspections, providing technical assistance, and working in partnership with the small drinking water systems in San Diego County.
Program Services | Information Options | Operational Plans | Upcoming Workshops
Program Services
- Provide reporting schedules for each small drinking water system at the beginning of each calendar year that are specific for each system based on their water quality reporting requirements.
- Technical assistance
- Coordinate with the CA Rural Water Association, the Rural Community Assistance Program, and the CA Department of Public Health to provide technical training/continuing education workshops in San Diego for the local small drinking water system owners and operators
- Provide assistance in obtaining grants and loans for small drinking water systems
- Assist small drinking water systems to be in compliance the CA Safe Drinking Water Act through regular inspection schedules, managing water quality monitoring/reporting schedules, and enforcement of laws regulating small drinking water systems
- Work in partnership with small drinking water system owners and operators to provide safe and pure water to their customers at all times
Water System Classifications
- A Community Water System is a public water system that has 15 to 199 service connections used by year-long residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-long residents. Water systems that have 200 or more service connections used by year-long residents are regulated by the State of California Department of Public Health. An example would be a community with residential homes served by a single water system.
- A Nontransient-Noncommunity Water System is a public water system that is not a community water system and regularly serves at least the same 25 persons during 6 months per year. An example would be a school or workplace.
- A Transient-Noncommunity Water System is a noncommunity public water system that does not provide water to the same 25 persons during 6 months per year. An example would be a campground or park.
- A State Small Water System is a public water system that has 5 to 14 service connections, and does not regularly serve potable water to more than 25 individuals for than 60 days out of the year. An example would be a small residential community with 10 homes served by a single water supply.
Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting
¤ Bacteriological Monitoring Requirements
Drinking water standards [Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)] are in Title 22 Code of California Regulation. Primary MCLs address health concerns (see public health goals). All small drinking water systems are required to test for the presence of coliform bacteria on a regular basis per Federal and State Drinking Water Standards. Community small drinking water systems and non-community/non-transient small drinking water systems are required to test for bacteria on a monthly schedule. Transient/non-community and state small drinking water systems are required to test quarterly for the presence of coliform bacteria. All water quality testing is required to be analyzed by a State-certified laboratory.
> EPA Total Coliform Rule
> A Small Systems Guide to the Total Coliform Rule
> Bacteriological Sample Siting Plan
> State Approved Labs for Water Quality Testing
¤ Chemical Monitoring Requirements
In addition to bacteriological monitoring requirements, small drinking water systems are required to test for chemical constituents that are described in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. Primary Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) address health concerns (see public health goals). Secondary MCLs are aesthetic standards that deal with taste and odor of the water, and not health hazards.
The general requirements for each system category are as follows:
Community Small Water Systems
Nitrates - Test each annually
Inorganic Chemicals - Test each source every 3 years
Organic Chemicals (Volatile and Synthetic Organic Chemicals) - Test each source every 3 years
General Mineral and General Physical (Secondary Standards) - Test each source every 3 years
Radioactivity - Test each source for 4 consecutive periods for a scheduled monitoring period
Lead and Copper Rule - 2 consecutive 6-month periods every 3 years. Sample collected from homes in distribution systems
Disinfection Byproduct Rule (Only for water systems that use chlorine for disinfection) - Test farthest point in distribution system annually
Non-Transient Non-Community (NTNC) Small Water Systems
Nitrates - Test each source annually
Inorganic Chemicals - Test each source every 3 years
Organic Chemicals (Volatile and Synthetic Organic Chemicals) - Test each source every 6 years
General Minerals and General Physical (Secondary Standards) - Test each source once
Radioactivity – Test each source for 4 consecutive quarters for a scheduled monitoring period
Lead and Copper Rule – 2 consecutive 6-month periods every 3 years. Samples collected from homes in distribution systems
Transient Non-Community (TNC) Small Water Systems
Nitrates – Test each source annually
Nitrites – Test each source every 3 years
Inorganic Chemicals – Test each source once
General Mineral and General Physical (Secondary Standards) – Test each source once
State Small Water Systems
Nitrates – Test each source once, unless directed by the Department
Inorganic Chemicals – Test each source once
Iron, Manganese, Chloride, Total Dissolved Solids – Test each source once
For additional information please contact us or see the following links:
Chemical Contaminants in Drinking Water
Recently Adopted State Regulations
Consumer Confidence Reports
Distribution and Treatment System Operator Certification
TMF (Technical, Management, and Financial Assessment) Requirements
Operations Plans
Small Drinking Water System with Chlorination
Small Drinking Water System without Chlorination
Upcoming Workshops
California Rural Water Association
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Free California Drinking Water Workshops
Land Use Program Professional Staff Listing
