Domestic Water
& Wastewater
Butte County’s domestic water supply is from both groundwater and surface water sources, and is provided by various irrigation districts, water districts, community services districts, agencies, cities, and private companies. Surface water could easily supply the entire County, but the infrastructure necessary to transport surface water supplies to many of the County’s small, remote communities is not in place. Because of the difficulties related to developing and transporting surface water, groundwater is the most prominent source of water supply in the County.
All development requires some means of collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater to protect public health and the environment. Community wastewater systems in Butte County vary broadly in size, from serving a relatively small group of homes to a large incorporated city. Except for the individual septic systems regulated by the County Public Health Department (Environmental Health Division), all such systems are subject to the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act and/or the State Porter Cologne Water Quality Act, which are administered in Butte County by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.