Water Systems Program

State Small Water Systems

The Sonoma County Water Systems Program provides for the oversight of State Small Water Systems (SSWS). A SSWS is defined as "a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that serves at least five (5), but not more than fourteen (14) service connections and does not regularly serve drinking water to more than an average of twenty-five (25) individuals daily for more than sixty (60) days out of the year."

The SSWS program oversees the following: issuance of operational permits, routine water system inspections, evaluation of water quality monitoring data, and follow-up compliance activities.

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Permits

Permit Process:

Complete a permit application and submit with the annual operational permit Fee. A SSWS Operational Permit will not be issued if the water supplier is an unincorporated business association organized under Title 3 (commencing with Section 20000) of Division 3 of the Corporations Code. Approvals for qualifying associations will be made by Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD). Any change in ownership of a SSWS requires the submission of a new application.

Applications must be accompanied by a technical report. The report shall describe the proposed or existing system as follows: service area, distribution system including storage and pumping facilities, the water source including source capacity, water quality and any water treatment facilities. The report shall identify the owner of the system and the party responsible for day-to-day operation of the system. The report shall include a plan for notification of those served by the system under emergency conditions. The report shall describe the operating plan for the system and shall specify how the responsible party will respond to failure of major system components.

Operating Under Permit:

Each SSWS shall provide the following notice to the consumers served by the system:

"The domestic water supply for this area is provided by a state small water system. State regulatory requirements for operation of a state small water system are less extensive than requirements for larger public water systems. If you have questions concerning your water supply, you should contact [insert: (1) name of water system, (2) name of responsible person, and (3) telephone number] or your local health department."

This notice shall be by direct mail delivery on an annual basis or by continuous posting at a central location within the area served by the SSWS.

Each SSWS shall sample water according to the following table:

* Inorganic Chemicals must include: Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Asbestos, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cyanide, Fluoride, Mercury, Nickel, Nitrate (as NO3), Nitrate + Nitrite (sum as nitrogen), Nitrite (as nitrogen), Selenium, and Thallium.

** Required only for each groundwater source which has been designated as vulnerable by the local health officer pursuant to criteria set forth California Health and Safety Code.

***Monthly testing requirement may be reduced to quarterly testing following 24 months of monthly sampling which indicates no bacteriological contamination present. If any routine bacteriological sample is positive, repeat sampling is required within 48 hours of being notified of the positive result. If the repeat sample is positive, the SSWS shall notify the local health officer within 48 hours from the time the repeat sample results are received and shall take corrective actions to eliminate the cause of the positive samples. SSWS that have an open water source or who must use a disinfection system to maintain bacteriological safe water may not be eligible for quarterly sampling.

All water samples must be analyzed by a laboratory certified by the State of California Department of Health Services for the type of analyses being performed. The results of the analyses shall be reported to the local health officer no later than the 10th day of the month following receipt of the results by the SSWS.

The SSWS shall comply with any corrective action ordered by the local health officer for any contaminant which exceeds the maximum contaminant level as identified in the California Health and Safety Code. The SSWS shall comply with all regulations within the California Health and Safety Code related to State Small Water Systems.

Public Water Systems Serving 15 or More Connections

Public water systems in Sonoma County providing water to 15 or more service connection, or regularly serving at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year, are under the jurisdiction of the State of California, Department of Health Services, Office of Drinking Water , 50 D Street, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95404-4752, Phone (707) 576-2145. Water systems with 15 or more connections on federal or tribal land are under the jurisdiction of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. These programs are not regulated by Sonoma County and the links provided here are for information only.

State of California, Department of Health Services, Office of Drinking Water

State of California Public Water Systems in Sonoma County with 15 or more connections State of California Public Water Systems in Sonoma County with 15 or more connections (click on Sonoma under "County")

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Groundwater and Safe Drinking Water Information

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Safe Drinking Water Standards

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Maximum Contaminant Levels

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Public Water Systems

 

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