Water Quality Report Confirms Santa Cruz Water Meets All Standards

The Santa Cruz Water Department has released its 2025 Annual Water Quality Report, confirming that the City’s drinking water continues to meet or exceed all state and federal standards for safety and quality. 

As required by the California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, the annual report provides an overview of the City’s water system, including water sources, treatment processes, and the results of extensive water quality monitoring conducted throughout the year. Thousands of tests are performed annually across the system to ensure compliance with strict regulatory standards and to protect public health. A Spanish-translated report will also be available to support accessibility and transparency. 

This work is led by the City’s Water Quality Laboratory, which is certified by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. The laboratory conducts testing for a wide range of potential contaminants and supports operational decisions to ensure the continued safety of the City’s drinking water. 

Santa Cruz’s high-quality drinking water is supported by the protection of our local watersheds and a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. The City’s water supply comes primarily from these watershed areas, where careful management helps maintain water quality from source to tap. The City actively manages and safeguards these lands, supporting both water quality and healthy ecosystems. 

The report is available online at santacruzca.gov/waterqualityreport. Printed copies can be made available at 212 Locust Street, Suite D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. 

About the Santa Cruz Water Department 

The Santa Cruz Water Department serves water to approximately 98,000 customers, processes 7 million gallons of water per day on average, manages 4,000 acres of watershed lands, oversees 300 miles of distribution lines, runs a state-certified water quality laboratory, and provides summertime recreation activities at the Loch Lomond Reservoir and Recreation Area. The department receives 100% of its water supply from within Santa Cruz County, with no pipelines or canals that connect to other areas of California. The San Lorenzo River serves as the primary water source, along with Loch Lomond Reservoir, North Coast sources and groundwater wells.