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Santa Cruz, CA

Low Risk (28/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Santa Cruz in California · Population: 266,021

TRI sites such as Felton Quarry; Granite Rock Co Santa Cruz Con; SDWIS systems such as SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT; WATSONVILLE, CITY OF; SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT; NPL sites such as Watkins-Johnson Co. (Stewart Division Plant) anchor Santa Cruz, CA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 28/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Santa Cruz include SAN LORENZO VALLEY WATER DIST; SLVWD - FELTON WATER SYSTEM; MT. HERMON ASSOCIATION, INC., while Felton Quarry leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 39 / peak 80 in 2024.

Burden score 28/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Santa Cruz -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

County population (Census ACS)
266,021
TRI Facilities
2
Water Systems
72
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
145 lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 293 (80%) 73 0 80
2023 300 (82%) 64 1 130
2022 287 (79%) 78 0 93
2021 298 (82%) 67 0 80
2020 261 (71%) 85 6 624
2024 Good Air Quality: 80% of days
Median AQI: 39

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in California, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (72)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT 94,626 0
WATSONVILLE, CITY OF 65,231 0
SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT 40,809 0
SAN LORENZO VALLEY WATER DIST 21,145 2
SCOTTS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT 11,197 0
PSMCSD - PAJARO 6,500 0
SLVWD - FELTON WATER SYSTEM 4,340 2
MISSION SPRINGS CONFERENCE CENTER 1,310 0
MT. HERMON ASSOCIATION, INC. 1,176 1
FOREST LAKES MWC 1,067 1
MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1,051 0
PSMCSD - NORMCO 928 0
PSMCSD - SUNNY MESA 880 0
CEDAR LODGE 656 0
TROUT GULCH MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 614 0
RIVERVIEW MOBILE HOME ESTATES 540 31
PSMCSD - MOSS LANDING HARBOR WS 520 0
COYOTE VALLEY RV RESORT 500 1
PSMCSD - VEGA RD WS #01 438 0
LAS CUMBRES MUTUAL WATER CO 402 107
MONTEREY BAY ACADEMY 400 0
SAN ANDREAS MUTUAL WATER CO 392 0
FOREST SPRINGS 385 109
DAVENPORT COUNTY SANITATION 350 0
ROUNTREE FACILITY(PREV. SHERIFF'S REHAB) 235 1
RIDGE MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 213 1
PURESOURCE WATER, INC 210 0
PSMCSD - SPRINGFIELD WS 200 56
RANCHO SAN ANDREAS 200 1
BIG REDWOOD PARK WATER 182 2
SUNSET BEACH MUTUAL WATER CO 182 0
MOUNT MADONNA CENTER 170 0
PSMCSD - VIERRA ESTATES WS 164 6
WOODS, THE (MENDOCINO) 157 0
LAKE CANYON MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 156 2
JARDINES DEL VALLE 130 2
CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS WATER ASSN 126 0
JARVIS MUTUAL WATER SYSTEM 125 1
ST FRANCIS TRACT WATER SYSTEM 118 0
SAN MIGUEL WS #01 100 59
SUMMERHILL MHP WS 95 0
RANCHO CORRALITOS 87 0
PSMCSD - LANGLEY/VALLE PACIFICO WS 81 0
VISTA GRANDE WATER USERS ASSOCIATION 79 0
STRAWBERRY RD WS #06 78 2
MANZANITA HILLS WA 75 0
PINE TREE LANE MUTUAL WATER CO 75 0
CATHEDRAL HILLS MWC, INC 75 0
BRUSH AND OLD WELL MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 70 1
LAUREL COMMUNITY LEAGUE 64 2
ELKHORN RD WS #04 60 9
PSMCSD - BLACKIE RD WS 60 0
DELANY WC 60 0
ROYAL OAK PLACE WS 60 0
CHETMOORE ACRES WA 59 0
RIVER GROVE MUTUAL WATER ASSN 54 13
ALLAN LANE WATER ASSOCIATION 54 2
APRICOT LN WS 53 0
VISTA ROBLES ASSOCIATION 53 0
BRACKEN BRAE COUNTRY CLUB 52 1
APTOS RIDGE MUTUAL WATER CO 52 0
RIDGEVIEW ESTATES MWC 50 0
MAHER RD WS #05 48 0
BAUMANN RD WS #01 48 0
SAN MIGUEL WS #03 45 0
HIDDEN MEADOW MUTUAL WATER CO 45 0
LAKEVIEW APARTMENTS 43 1
KING'S MOBILE HOME PARK 43 0
MEADOWRIDGE MUTUAL WATER CO 42 0
MOUNTAIN SPRINGS MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 40 0
APTOS HILLS MUTUAL WATER CO 32 5
EMERALD CITY MUTUAL WATER CO 26 0

TRI Facilities (2)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Felton Quarry 145 lbs
2 Granite Rock Co Santa Cruz Con 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Watkins-Johnson Co. (Stewart Division Plant) NPL Site 28.90

Cities in Santa Cruz (11)

Santa Cruz
1 facilities · 7 water
Felton
1 facilities · 3 water
Royal Oaks
0 facilities · 17 water
Aptos
0 facilities · 6 water
Boulder Creek
0 facilities · 5 water
Ben Lomond
0 facilities · 2 water
Corralitos
0 facilities · 2 water
Freedom
0 facilities · 2 water
La Selva Beach
0 facilities · 2 water
Mount Hermon
0 facilities · 1 water
Soquel
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Santa Cruz, California? ▼
Santa Cruz, CA has an environmental risk score of 28/100 (Low Risk), based on 2 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 72 water systems on record. 27 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Santa Cruz? ▼
Yes, Santa Cruz, CA has 1 Superfund site on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Santa Cruz? ▼
Santa Cruz, CA has 2 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 145 lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Santa Cruz? ▼
In 2024, Santa Cruz, CA recorded a median AQI of 39 and a peak AQI of 80. 80% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Santa Cruz? ▼
Santa Cruz, CA has 72 EPA-regulated water systems. 27 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Santa Cruz? ▼
Environmental compliance in Santa Cruz, California is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the California state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related Guides

Understanding EPA Data
How EPA collects and publishes environmental data
Environmental Justice
Who lives near polluters and environmental hazards
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro