Water Systems
The Small Public/Water Systems Program is involved with the permitting, inspecting, and monitoring of approximately 150 small water systems throughout Shasta County. The County is the Local Primacy Agency, under contract with the State Water Resources Control Board, to perform the program requirements that are specified in State and Federal Regulations. The purpose of the program is to ensure that small water systems deliver safe, adequate, and dependable potable water.
Environmental Health staff review new applications and changes of ownership to verify that the system will be able to meet technical, managerial, and financial capabilities. A small water system is defined as a system that serves water for human consumption has 15 or more service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year. This includes any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities. Systems are divided into the following classifications:
Small Public Water Systems
- A Community Water System (CWS) is a public water system that has 15 or more service connections used by year-long residents OR regularly serves at least 25 year-long residents of the area served by the system.
- A Non-Transient Non-Community (NTNC) Water System is a public water system that is not a community water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons during six months of the year.
- A Transient Non-Community Water System is a non-community water system that does NOT regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons during six months of the year.
Small Nonpublic Water Systems
- A State Small Water System is a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that serves at least five, but not more than 14, service 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.
- A CalCode Water System is a food facility which has its own source of water and is not regulated by the department as a public water system unless the facility serves water from their system for human consumption that includes drinking of water. These systems follow the same regulations as a Transient Non-Community Water System.
