The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) is proud to provide 100% locally sourced water to our customers. SCWD drinking water consists of local surface water and groundwater sources that are well protected, carefully managed, and treated at drinking water treatment facilities.

Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant

The city depends on raw water from four locales: the San Lorenzo River (SLR), Loch Lomond Reservoir, North Coast sources, and Beltz groundwater wells. Typically 90-95% of water served to SCWD's customers is produced at the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant (GHWTP), while the remaining water is produced by the Beltz and Beltz 12 Water Treatment Plants.

San Lorenzo River and Tait Wells 

SLR water is diverted at two locations: Tait Street Diversion and Felton Diversion. The Tait Street Diversion is located in Santa Cruz and diverts raw water from the river and Tait Wells (located adjacent to the river) to GHWTP for treatment. Felton Diversion, 5 miles upstream from the Tait Street Diversion, pumps water (when flow is available) from the SLR up to Loch Lomond Reservoir.

San Lorenzo River near the Tait Street intake

Loch Lomond Reservoir

Loch Lomond Reservoir was constructed in 1960 and is located on Newell Creek, approximately 10 miles northeast of Santa Cruz. It is the only reservoir for the City of Santa Cruz and holds approximately 2.8 billion gallons when full. Water is conveyed from the reservoir to GHWTP through the Newell Creek Pipeline. It is filled primarily with local watershed runoff, but also receives water diverted from SLR at the Felton Diversion.

Loch Lomond Reservoir and Newell Creek Dam

North Coast Sources  

The North Coast water supply consists of two coastal streams and one spring located a few miles northwest of Santa Cruz. Water from Liddell Spring, Laguna Creek, and Majors Creek is transported through the Coast Pipeline to the Coast Pump Station, where it is then conveyed to GHWTP for treatment. Santa Cruz has relied on some North Coast sources for drinking water since the 1890s. 

 Laguna Creek

Beltz Groundwater System

The Beltz Groundwater System consists of four groundwater wells and two small groundwater treatment plants located in the southeast portion of SCWD's service area. Three of these wells draw from the Purisima Aquifer, while one well draws from both the Purisima and Santa Margarita Aquifers.

Generally, the groundwater treatment plants are used during the late spring, summer, and early fall seasons to supply customers when surface water flows have diminished.

Beltz Well 12