Tap Truth EPA drinking water records, in plain English

Public water system record

City of San Diego

Serves San Diego, San Diego County, CA · 1,385,379 people served

Federal records show no health-based violations and 8 monitoring/reporting issues for City of San Diego in the last ten years.

  • CA3710020
  • SAN DIEGO
  • CA
  • 1,385,379 served

System profile

Source water Surface water
ZIP 92123
EPA system ID CA3710020

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
0
Resolved
0
Unresolved
0
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
8

Key facts

  • City of San Diego draws water from 3 wells and 5 surface water intakes.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order with a penalty by California, September 2020.
  • Record on file since 2001, with 1 health-based violation before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 0 unknown out of 286,200 service lines.

Check whether City of San Diego serves your address

Address suggestions by Mapbox

Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.

None since October 2016.

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
 Apr 1, 2020 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
 Mar 1, 2020 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
 Feb 1, 2020 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
 Jan 1, 2020 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
 Dec 1, 2019 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2017 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2017 Resolved
Nitrite
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2014 Resolved

Full record since 2001

EPA's records for City of San Diego go back to 2001. Before October 19, 2016 they list 1 health-based violation (1 resolved) and 5 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
2000s 1 1
2010 to October 18, 2016 0 4
October 19, 2016 to 2019 0 3
2020s 0 4

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform (acute), began November 2004, Resolved.

Show the health-based violation before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Nov 1, 2004 Resolved

Enforcement actions

California regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against City of San Diego and issued 1 boil water order between 2004 and 2020. The most recent was a compliance order with a penalty in September 2020.

Date By Action Violations covered
Sep 15, 2020 California Compliance order with a penalty 5 violations: Revised Total Coliform Rule
Aug 6, 2006 California Boil water order 1 violation
Dec 29, 2004 California Administrative penalty 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform

Where the water comes from

City of San Diego draws water from 3 wells and 5 surface water intakes. It also buys water from San Diego County Water Authority. 5 other community water systems and 1 smaller public system such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buy water from City of San Diego. 4 other public water systems have emergency connections to City of San Diego.

Buys water from

Community systems that buy water from it

Annual water quality report

City of San Diego must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.

Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.

Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search

Testing your own water

To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by California.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells