Environmental Health
The state small water system program was implemented to regulate the provision of safe and reliable drinking water to the residents and visitors of rural Monterey County and to promote consolidation among small water systems.
A “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.
Monterey County provides the following services for State Small Water Systems:
- Permit state small water systems
- Provide assistance to help systems comply with regulations and resolve water quality/quantity problems
- Collect water samples for bacteria and nitrate quality
- 2007-08 Small Water System Sample Results
- 2008-09 Small Water System Sample Results
- 2009-10 Small Water System Sample Results (partial)
- Complaint investigations
- Provide assistance for state small water systems seeking to consolidate
- Maintain records
- Cross connection control assistance
- Source Capacity assessment oversight
- Provide Water system agreement guidance
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Permitting – Chapter 15.04 of the Monterey County Code requires that persons providing domestic water to more than one connection obtain a water system permit from the Monterey County Health Department. The number of connections is determined by the number of living units (i.e., houses, mobile homes, apartments, caretakers units, senior units, etc.) served by the water system.
See Permit Details in the Forms section of this page.
Water Quality – State Small water systems are required to comply with Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations and the Chapter 15.04 of the Monterey County Code. To view the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL’s), visit the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website.
Arsenic - The federal MCL for arsenic was previously 50 parts per billion (ppb) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). To protect consumers served by public water systems from the health risks of long-term (chronic) arsenic exposure, the USEPA lowered the arsenic MCL from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. The new federal standard became effective in 2006. California was required to implement this new standard, and on November 28, 2008, California's new arsenic maximum contaminant level of 10 ppb became effective.
Nitrates - Excessive Nitrates in drinking water can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This condition (methemoglobinemia) can be so acute that health deteriorates rapidly over a period of days. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin.
Operators - A State Small water systems with treatment may be required to have a certified treatment operator. Contact the Drinking Water Protection Services Program for more information.
Operation and Maintenance Plan - An adequate operation and maintenance plan is essential to help a water system plan ahead, schedule and budget maintenance, avoid oversight, and facilitate training. A form (see forms below) is available to help you develop a plan. To learn more about plans, click here.
Ordinances/Regulations:
California Safe Drinking Act
Monterey County Code
| Permitting | Word | ||
| 1 | State and Local Small Permit Details |  |
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| 2 | Application for a New or Amended Water System Permit | |
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| 3 | Financial Capacity | |
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| 4 | Five Year Budget Projection and Ten Year Growth Projection | |
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| 5 | Guidelines for Preparation of an Operation and Maintenance Plan | |
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| 6 | Water Quality Emergency Notification Plan | |
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| 7 | Connection List |  |
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| 8 | General Outlines for Small Water System Agreements | |
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| 9 | Well Pumping Test Procedures | |
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| 10 | Guidelines for Water System Plans | |
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| 11 | Application for Source Capacity Test | |
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| Notification Forms | Word | ||
| 12 | Nitrate Notification | |
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| 13 | Nitrate Notification (Spanish) | |
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| 14 | Total Coliform Notification | |
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| 15 | E. Coli Notification - Bottled Water Order | |
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| 16 | E. Coli Notification - Boil Water Order | |
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| 17 | Disinfection Instructions | |
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| 18 | Arsenic Information for Water Systems Over 10 ppb | |
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| 19 | Arsenic Notification for Water Systems Over 10 ppb | |
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| 20 | Proof of Notification | |
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| 21 | Arsenic Quality Standard Failure Notification (English) | |
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| 22 | Arsenic Quality Standard Failure Notification (Spanish) | |
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| 23 | Arsenic & Nitrates Notification | |
