Seaside Municipal Water System

Seaside Muni Water Banner

The City of Seaside owns and operates a small municipal water system. This system includes one groundwater well and two 500,000 gallon water tanks. We pride ourselves on providing consistently high water quality and service. To determine whether or not the City services your property, view the City of Seaside Water Service Addresses.  For additional information of water quality please see the 2022 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF).

COVID-19

The City of Seaside disinfects the municipal water in compliance with Caliifornia's standards. California’s comprehensive and safe drinking water standards require a multistep treatment process that includes filtration and disinfection. This process removes and kills viruses, including coronaviruses such as COVID-19, as well as bacteria and other pathogens.  COVID-19 is transmitted person to person, not through water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Public water systems that utilize groundwater sources maintain protective physical measures, including soil barriers, to ensure that water sources are protected from pathogens, including viruses. In addition, the City of Seaside uses chlorine disinfection to inactivate viruses or bacteria that might find their way into the water.

The California Water Boards has created a Fact Sheet on Safety of State Public Drinking Water with more information.

The Seaside Municipal Water System continues to conduct its work in coordination and compliance with all federal, state and local agencies and directives. 

Water Conservation Plan

To assist customers of the Seaside Municipal Water System, a Water Conservation Plan has been adopted which provides rebates for purchasing and installing water conserving devices.  Every drop counts, so please use water wisely!

Billing Rates

Water billing rates for the municipal water system have recently increased. This was done to cover the water systems cost of operations, maintenance, and capital improvement. Please click here for the most current approved water rate schedule.

Lack of water availability has been a historic problem on the Monterey Peninsula, including the Seaside Municipal Water System. In order to keep rates reasonable, water wise habits and conservation are incredibly important. Low flow toilets, shower-heads, water efficient washing machines and dishwashers are great tools to effectively reduce your water consumption and are strongly encouraged by the Seaside Municipal System.

Water Shut Off Policy

The State legislature has enacted Senate Bill 998 (“SB 998”) known as the Water Shut Off Protection Act. It is intended to help residential water users who lose access to water service due to their inability to pay. It requires procedural protections before residential water service can be discontinued for non-payment.

Water Shut Off Policy (cont.)

These protections apply to water service provided by an "urban water supplier," an "urban and community water system," and a "public water system" as those terms defined in SB 998 requires water suppliers to have a written policy on discontinuation of services (Shut Off Policy), prohibits discontinuance until accounts are a least 60 days delinquent, requires seven (7) business days’ notice before interruption, requires water suppliers to offer payment arrangements to residents who cannot pay and are willing to make payments via alternative methods, and other requirements.

For the reporting period January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022 the number of residential water service disconnections due to inability to pay was zero. 

 If you are experiencing a financial hardship please send an e-mail to lmerwin@ci.seaside.ca.us to make a payment arrangement, or call (831) 899-6715.

Contact Us

  1. City Hall

    Physical Address
    440 Harcourt Avenue
    Seaside, CA 93955

    Phone: 831-899-6700

    Directory

  2. Lori Merwin

    Accounting Technician
    e-mail
    Phone: 831-899-6715

Post Seaside Municipal Water System Webinar (1)

Seaside Municipal Water System (Webinar)

The Seaside Municipal Water System serves approximately 800 connections on the east side of the City. The system is currently relying upon one active drinking water well. City staff will present the status of the Seaside Municipal Water System, review the sources of water supply and provide an update on the status of planning for a reliable back-up source of drinking water supply.

Webinar Final Slides

  1. How big is the City’s water system?
  2. Where does our water come from?
  3. Does SMWS have rights to this water?
  4. How many water wells does the system have?
  5. Do we need to have two wells?
  6. What do we do today if the well needs maintenance?
  7. How long do wells last?
View All FAQs
  1. How big of a site is needed?
  2. What part of town is being considered for a well?
  3. Does the next well have to be located in a City park?
View All FAQs
  1. How long does it take to construct a well?
  2. How big of a work area is needed?
  3. What impact will the drilling have on nearby residents?
  4. Will the work site be fenced off?
  5. Can the state help finance this new well?
View All FAQs
  1. What was the cause of water released on Juarez Street without any warning? Will the new design address these issues?
  2. Will other areas such as the golf course and Seaside East be included in the feasibility study?
  3. Construction as well as continuous lights and noise will cause a disturbance and impact the residents in the area.
  4. Will community input be allowed on the siting?
  5. Can the well at MLK School of the Arts be revived?
  6. Will the drilling and pumping impact the nearby neighbor's water quality or quantity?
  7. Will water storage tanks be required at the well site?
View All FAQs