Santa Cruz County, California
22 ZIP codes · Avg score 64/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
Monitoring figures for Santa Cruz County indicate average water quality overall — some ZIP codes among the 22 tracked have recorded health-based violations, while others operate cleanly, making individual ZIP-level data the most actionable reference point.
How Santa Cruz County Compares
How Santa Cruz County Compares
Santa Cruz County scores 9 points below the California state average (73/100) and 4 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Santa Cruz County, California
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 11 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 10.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,081, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.397% avg pipe failure probability, 48% of ZIPs at high risk
75.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Santa Cruz County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 70 violations. Past 5 years: 122 total (122 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,081
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
111,409 housing units in Santa Cruz County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Santa Cruz County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Santa Cruz County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Santa Cruz County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Santa Cruz County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT | 94,626 | 71 |
| 2 | Riverview Mobile Home Estates | 540 | 54 |
| 3 | Davenport County Sanitation | 350 | 54 |
| 4 | Rountree Facility(prev. Sheriff's Rehab) | 235 | 54 |
| 5 | Pond-derosa Oaks Wc | 216 | 54 |
47 total water systems serve Santa Cruz County.
All ZIP Codes in Santa Cruz County
22 ZIP codes tracked in Santa Cruz County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 95077 | Watsonville | 83 | B | 0 | — |
| 2 | 95019 | Freedom | 82 | B | 3 | $678K |
| 3 | 95001 | Aptos | 81 | B | 0 | — |
| 4 | 95067 | Scotts Valley | 79 | B | 4 (1 health) | — |
| 5 | 95033 | Los Gatos | 74 | B | 2 (1 health) | $1285K |
| 6 | 95066 | Scotts Valley | 74 | B | 4 (1 health) | $1113K |
| 7 | 95073 | Soquel | 73 | B | 0 | $1012K |
| 8 | 95076 | Watsonville | 68 | C | 0 | $767K |
| 9 | 95041 | Mount Hermon | 67 | C | 3 (1 health) | $1060K |
| 10 | 95003 | Aptos | 66 | C | 0 | $1154K |
| 11 | 95005 | Ben Lomond | 65 | C | 0 | $959K |
| 12 | 95006 | Boulder Creek | 65 | C | 7 (2 health) | $779K |
| 13 | 95368 | Salida | 63 | C | 0 | $449K |
| 14 | 95061 | Santa Cruz | 58 | C | 9 (8 health) | — |
| 15 | 95007 | Brookdale | 55 | C | 0 | $790K |
| 16 | 95018 | Felton | 55 | C | 10 (7 health) | $778K |
| 17 | 95062 | Santa Cruz | 53 | D | 9 (8 health) | $1065K |
| 18 | 95065 | Santa Cruz | 53 | D | 9 (8 health) | $1192K |
| 19 | 95319 | Empire | 53 | D | 0 | $329K |
| 20 | 95063 | Santa Cruz | 50 | D | 9 (8 health) | — |
| 21 | 95064 | Santa Cruz | 50 | D | 9 (8 health) | $438K |
| 22 | 95060 | Santa Cruz | 48 | D | 9 (8 health) | $1189K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Santa Cruz County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 75.2% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Santa Cruz County, California
Overview
Santa Cruz County in California covers 22 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (64/100).
13 of 22 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 61 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to California water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.