Water Department

Delivering Santa Cruz’s Drinking Water

The Santa Cruz Water Department provides high-quality drinking water by managing local water sources, treatment facilities, and the infrastructure that delivers water to our community.

This includes more than 300 miles of pipelines, pumps, tanks, and a reservoir that support daily operations and long-term reliability. Our work focuses on protecting public health, maintaining essential infrastructure, and planning for a resilient water supply.

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Serving the Santa Cruz Community

We provide drinking water to more than 100,000 people across Santa Cruz, including homes, businesses, schools, and essential public services. Water service supports everyday needs, from drinking water and sanitation to fire protection and local economic activity.

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Help with Your Water Service and Billing

Need help with your water service or bill? Santa Cruz Municipal Utilities (SCMU) manages customer accounts for water, sewer, and refuse (trash) services.

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From Source to System

We manage Santa Cruz’s drinking water operations to provide consistent, dependable service every day. Water is collected from local watersheds and groundwater sources, treated and tested to meet all state and federal standards, and delivered through reservoirs, tanks, pumps, and pipelines.

Water quality is monitored year-round to ensure it meets or exceeds all regulatory standards. Our work also includes maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, protecting watershed health, and planning for long-term system performance.

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Current Water Conditions

Stay up to date on Santa Cruz’s water supply, including reservoir levels, rainfall, and overall system conditions.

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Governance and Oversight

The Water Department operates under the direction of the Santa Cruz City Council and is advised by the Water Commission, which provides input on water policy, rates, and long-term planning.

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Stay Informed

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