COUNTY OF MONTEREY
HEALTH
DEPARTMENT
Nationally Accredited for Providing Quality Health Services
State and Local (Small Water Systems)
Published on November 15, 2016. Last modified on September 17, 2025
SMALL WATER SYSTEM PROGRAM
The Drinking Water Protection Services regulates Local and State Small Water Systems, which serve 2-14 connections. Many residents and visitors receive their water from these systems. Drinking Water Protection Services currently administrates 969 systems, which serve about 4232 connections.
Program staff regularly tests these water systems and provides guidance to correct any deficiencies.
The small water system program consists of the following two types of water systems:
- 105 - Local Small Water System – Serves drinking water to 2-4 connections. Regulated by Monterey County Code (Chapter 15.04)
- 104 - State Small Water System – Serves drinking water to 5-14 connections and does not regularly serve drinking water to more than an average of 25 individuals daily for more than 60 days out of the year. Regulated by Monterey County Code (Chapter 15.04), California Code of Regulations (Section 64211)
Service connections include all dwelling units (i.e., single family homes, apartments, caretakers units, and senior units) and parcels which use potable water for domestic and not agriculture purposes.
Services provided:
- Permitting
- Sampling
- Inspections
- Technical Assistance
- Complaint Investigations
- Record Maintenance
- Maintain Water System Connection List – Can be used to search the name of the water system that serves a parcel or address
Maps
Map of Monterey County Water System QualityForms
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Use this list to look the up the name of the water system that an address or parcel is connected to – list is currently being updated |
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PDF form for Water system field inspection/Coliform Investigation Report |
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Instructions for the care of small water supplies when Coliform Bacteria is found. |
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Instructions for collecting bacteriological water samples |
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List of Operators, Samplers, and Laboratories - English/Spanish |
List of operating and sampling services with whom Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau, (MCHD, EHB) has recently worked. The list may not be complete and should only be used as a guide. |
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A partial list of engineering firms with whom Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau, (MCHD, EHB) has recently worked. The list is not complete and should only be used as a guide in starting the search for an engineering firm. |
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FAQs About Nitrates in Drinking Water |
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FAQs About Arsenic in Drinking Water |
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List of guidelines for water system plans. |
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State and Local Small Water System Application and Attachments
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Application for a new water system permit |
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Application Form (Amended Small Water System)- English/Spanish |
Application for an amended water system permit |
| Application Form (Change of Ownership Small Water System)- English/Spanish |
Application for change of ownership for a new water system permit |
| Application to Reclassify from a Public to a Small Water System - English/Spanish |
Application to Reclassify from a Public to a Small Water System |
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Form to list water system connections |
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Emergency Notification Plan- English/Spanish - English/Spanish |
PDF form for Water Quality Emergency Notification Plan |
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PDF form for Operations Plan for groundwater systems |
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Guidance Document |
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PDF for Five Year Budget Projections and 10 Year Growth Projections |
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General information that may need to be included in a water agreement. This is not intended to be legal advice. Water agreements must be signed and recorded and should be drafted or reviewed by an attorney. |
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