Five failing water systems in Santa Cruz County: What it means for local residents

BOULDER CREEK, Calif. (KION-TV) — California's water resources board finding hundreds of water systems across the state are in trouble.

Referring to the systems tonight as "failing", including some in Santa Cruz County.

The report found that 5 areas of failed water systems are right here in Santa Cruz County. 

Some of which received the "F" grade within the past two years.

“Big Basin has been status failing for at least 4 years now, they been trying to work with the owners of the company to achieve regulatory appliance and to turn things around," Nicolas Jaber court-appointed receiver for Big Basin Water Company said.

Big Basin Water company is a water supply utility for over eleven hundred residents and has indicated failure, risk assessment is at risk.

The court-appointed receiver for the company says, a part of it has to do with capacity.

“Capacity that's a big one," Jaber said. “We have over thirteen or fourteen hundred people that rely on the water."

Immediately after the CZU fire, many residents were given a boil water notice due to the fire damaged infrastructure including water supply systems and posed risk of contaminate such as ash and debris.

“Water was being shut off and there were boil water notices being issued on a regular basis," Jaber said.

Residents in the Boulder Creek area drew concerns on the failure water system saying many Big Basin residents had to boil water in the past.

We asked the Court Appointed receiver for Big Basin Water Company if the water safe to drink in Big Basin?

“Big Basin water is safe," Jaber said.

According to AP, "98% of Californians are served by water systems that meet state standards, and over $1 billion in state grants have helped disadvantaged communities tackle drinking water problems."