The SWB and the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWBs) throughout the state protect water quality, allocate surface water rights, and fund improvements for drinking water and wastewater in the state.2 The SWB does this by developing statewide policies and regulations to “preserve, enhance, and restore the quality” of California’s water.3 Examples of these policies and regulations include, but are not limited to, setting limits on the level of contaminants allowed in drinking water provided by public water systems, requiring certain methods to treat drinking water, and providing funding opportunities for drinking water system improvements.4

The RWBs implement the policies and regulations created by the SWB in their respective regions. The RWBs also set water quality standards, issue waste discharge permits, basin plans for their watersheds, and take enforcement action against violators.5

More information, here: (English / Español).

A Local Primacy Agency (LPA) is a county environmental health agency, usually called the county’s environmental health department, that the SWB has given power and authority to oversee small public water systems in the county. The LPA is usually the county’s “local health officer,” but a county’s local health officer is not always an LPA. More information, here: (English / Español).

County environmental health programs are intended to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the public and preserve and improve the quality of the environment.

Tulare County 
Information about water testing fees, here: Testing Fees.
Contact information, here: Tulare County Website.

Sacramento County
Contact information, here: Sacramento County Website.

Kings County
Information about Management Zones, here: Management Zones.
Contact information, here: Kings County Website.

Kern County 
Contact information, here: Kern County Website.

Fresno County
Contact information, here: Fresno County Website.

Merced County
Contact information, here: Merced County Website.

Madera County
Contact information, here: Madera County Website.

Los Angeles County
Contact information, here: LA County Website.

Inyo County
Contact information, here: Inyo County Website.

San Bernardino County
Contact information, here: San Bernadino County Website.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for managing the water use of and delivery to about two-thirds of California’s population, dam safety, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, and other programs. More information, here: DWR.

Federal

The Federal Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the federal agencies. More information, here: Office of the Attorney General.

State

The California Attorney General is the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official, protecting and serving the people and interests of California. The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, preserving California's natural resources, enforcing civil rights laws, and helping victims of identity theft, mortgage-related fraud, illegal business practices, and other consumer crimes. More information, here: CA Department of Justice.

Lawsuits that the District Attorneys’ Offices Can Bring

When the state or federal District Attorney’s Office, aka the state itself, brings a lawsuit against a private citizen or an organization, it can be a civil or criminal lawsuit. When a private citizen or a state agency like the SWB, brings a lawsuit, it is always a civil lawsuit. 

Criminal lawsuits can result in fines, imprisonment (jail/prison), or both. Certain intentional violations by a PWS that harm customers of the PWS can be considered criminal activity, such as illegally performing water shutoffs. Crimes include knowingly engaging in false misrepresentation, destroying, altering, or concealing required documentation, withholding critical safety information, operating a system without a permit, or tampering with a water system with the intention to harm people.

Email environmental justice-related questions and concerns here: EJ@doj.ca.gov.

Or contact the State at the links below:
General Form
Complaint Against Company

The California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) is a state agency with regulatory authority over private companies that provide public utility services directly to consumers.6 Regulated utilities include, but are not limited to, water, electricity, natural gas, telephones, and certain forms of public transportation.7 The Commission stated mission includes “protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates[.]”8

What Water Providers Are Regulated By the Commission?

According to the California Public Utilities Code, anyone that owns, controls, operates, or manages water for compensation, and delivers some water to, or provides some water-related service for, members of the public, and receives payment in return, is a public utility subject to regulation by the PUC.9 It does not matter whether the water is for irrigation, reclamation, manufacturing, power generation, or municipal or domestic use.10

The Public Utilities Code carves out certain exceptions for water providers that are not classified as public utilities subject to PUC oversight, including mutual water companies, water wholesalers, and certain providers that only supply water to water conservation districts, mobile home parks, and residential apartment complexes.11

Mutual Water Companies

Mutual water companies may supply water at cost to their members, to their members’ tenants, to other mutual water companies, and to governmental entities for the purpose of providing fire protection or operating park facilities, without becoming subject to Commission regulation. However, if a mutual supplies water for compensation to anyone besides its members, including governmental entities, other mutuals, or individual consumers, it is classified as a public utility and becomes subject to Commission regulation.12

If there is any question regarding whether a water provider should be classified as a public utility, the Commission will conduct a hearing on the matter, and its determination will be final.13 (This means that neither the water provider nor the water consumers can petition a court of law to review the Commission’s decision.)