California Public Water System Permitting

Public Water System Permitting in California

What is a public water system?

A public water system is defined as a system that provides water for human consumption to 15 or more connections or regularly serves 25 or more people daily for at least 60 days out of the year. There are three types of water systems:
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1. Community – Such as City, County, regulated utilities, regional water systems, and small water companies and districts where people live.
2. Non-transient non-community – Typically schools and businesses that provide their own water. A consistent group of individuals consumes the water, but do not reside there.
3. Transient non-community – Includes entities like gas stations, restaurants, parks, etc., that provide their own potable water source. Most individuals who consume the water do not reside or regularly spend time there. 

Public water system permitting 

Public water systems are required to have domestic water supply permits through the State Water Resources Control Board. For new water systems, the first step in the permitting process is to explore consolidation with an existing water system in the vicinity and submitting a preliminary technical report to the State. Most times, consolidation is not feasible as either the cost is impractical or the existing system prefers not to consolidate.
Once it is determined that a new water system permit will be required, an application is submitted to the State, which then generates a Permit Application Requirements Checklist, which identifies all required documentation to receive the water supply permit. Each checklist is unique and applicable to the specific project. Required documentation includes, but is in no way limited to the following:
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• Well capacity and estimated demand calculations
• Well pump tests
• Documentation of well features
• As-built and proposed mapping
• Raw water monitoring
• Water system operator information
• Operations plan
• Emergency plan

Our office frequently works with the State and certified water system operators to develop and submit all required documents to permit new water systems, and to amend existing water permits to add additional wells, treatment, or other features.

​Planning Your Water System Project 

The BC Engineering Group staff has developed plans, calculations, and documents for multiple new water systems in Northern California; we know the permitting process and can serve all water system development needs. As a leading civil engineering and water system design firm, we guide water system developments from planning to construction. Take advantage of our experience and contact us today for your water system design and permitting, and land development needs. We are here to help!
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For more information on water system permitting and other land planning services, please contact us at 707-542-4321, or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn. You can also stay up to date with civil engineering and land planning issues by subscribing to our blog.