Water Quality Control Board

What Water Quality Control Board does

The California State Water Resources Control Board (also known as the State Water Board or SWRCB) is a California state government regulatory agency operating under the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). It holds statutory authority over both water quality and water rights regulation statewide, supported by a structure comprising nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (covering North Coast, San Francisco Bay, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Lahontan, Colorado River Basin, Santa Ana, and San Diego regions) plus the State Water Board itself. The agency's mission is to preserve, enhance, and restore water quality for protection of all beneficial uses, including drinking water supply, recreation, aquatic life support, agricultural use, and tribal/cultural uses. It also administers federal grant programs including the Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CFDA #66.458) and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CFDA #66.468), and operates the SAFER (Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience) Drinking Water program.

The agency's core technical infrastructure is the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP), California's primary ambient water quality monitoring system encompassing statewide and regional monitoring programs, bioassessment, bioaccumulation studies, toxicity testing, and microbiology analysis. SWAMP IQ (Information Management and Quality Assurance Center) provides data management and quality assurance through standardized methodologies and Measurement Quality Objectives. Other key technology platforms include CalWATRS (the online water rights data system and mapping tool), the Basin Plan Portal (GIS-based mapping of beneficial use designations), CEDEN (California Environmental Data Exchange Network) for public data access, GeoTracker for groundwater data, and SMARTS for stormwater permit management. The agency leads specialized initiatives including the SeMMAP eDNA Metabarcoding Monitoring project, the Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program for contaminants in fish and shellfish tissue, and the Clean Water Team citizen monitoring program.

The agency is funded through California state budget appropriations and federal grant programs. It does not sell commercial products or services, instead providing regulatory oversight, permits (NPDES, waste discharge requirements, water rights), grants and loans, technical assistance, enforcement, emergency response, and public information services. Customer segments include the California general public (40+ million residents, with 85% depending on groundwater), regulated entities (agriculture, cannabis cultivation, industry, wastewater treatment), California Native American Tribes, citizen monitoring groups and community science organizations, and local/regional government agencies. Operational outcomes include 99.8% closure of single-walled storage tanks, zero lead service lines in California drinking water, and monitoring coverage of 476 coastal beaches under the AB411 program.

Name

Water Quality Control Board

Legal name

State Water Resources Control Board

Website

https://swrcb.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The California State Water Resources Control Board is a state government regulatory agency overseeing water quality and water rights statewide through nine Regional Boards and the SWAMP monitoring program, serving California residents, regulated entities, tribes, and local agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory Compliance Monitoring & Reporting (SDWA/CWA/NPDES, permits, audits) (EUANAJAA), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Public Health & Consumer Confidence Reporting (CCR, boil-water advisories, notifications) (EUANAJAL), Drinking Water Quality & Safe Water Regulatory Authorities (HLAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Water quality regulation
• Water rights management
• Ambient water monitoring
• Drinking water programs
• Wastewater permitting

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The California State Water Resources Control Board regulates water quality and water rights across the state of California through its State Board and nine Regional Boards. It issues permits (NPDES, waste discharge requirements, water rights), conducts statewide ambient water quality monitoring via SWAMP, enforces water quality standards, provides financial assistance (grants and loans) for water infrastructure, responds to water-related emergencies, and operates public data systems (CalWATRS, CEDEN, GeoTracker, SMARTS) for water rights and water quality information.

Product overview

The California State Water Resources Control Board operates as a platform of interconnected water quality management programs and data systems. The core monitoring infrastructure includes the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP), which encompasses the Clean Water Team for citizen science and SWAMP IQ for data quality assurance. Supporting systems include CalWATRS for water rights data, the Basin Plan Portal for GIS-based beneficial use mapping, the Bacterial Objectives Program for recreational water safety, and specialized initiatives like the Tribal Water Data Initiatives and SAFER Drinking Water program. Together these products form an integrated water resource management ecosystem serving California's water quality oversight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP): Statewide water quality monitoring program assessing the health of California's surface waters through chemical, physical, and biological monitoring.
• Clean Water Team (CWT)
• CalWATRS
• SWAMP IQ
• Basin Plan Portal

Products and services

• CalWATRS Online water rights data system and mapping tool that provides exploration and access to California water rights information. Used by water right holders, regulated entities, and the public.
• Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) A statewide program that monitors and assesses the quality of California's surface waters through standardized sampling, laboratory analysis, and data management. Provides statewide water quality data for regulatory and public use.
• Clean Water Team (CWT) Citizen Monitoring Program The citizen monitoring program of the State Water Resources Control Board, part of SWAMP, providing technical assistance, training, QA/QC support, guidance documents, and equipment loans to volunteer monitoring organizations and community science groups across California.
• SWAMP Information Management and Quality Assurance Center (SWAMP IQ) Provides resources supporting each stage of water quality monitoring, including quality assurance review, verification, Measurement Quality Objectives (MQOs), and data storage services. Includes the SWAMP Online Data Checker for validating data submissions before loading to CEDEN.
• Basin Plan Portal A GIS-based mapping project containing beneficial use designations and waterbody segments identified in regional water quality control plans (Basin Plans), covering swimming, fishing, spawning habitat, agricultural use, tribal and cultural use, and municipal supply.
• Bacterial Objectives Program Statewide bacteria water quality objectives and implementation options approved by U.S. EPA on March 22, 2019, to protect recreational users from pathogens in California water bodies. Underpins the AB411 beach monitoring program covering 476 California beaches.
• Tribal Water Data Initiatives Water data initiatives developed in partnership with California Native American Tribes to improve interactions between Water Board data systems and tribal government partners, respecting tribal data sovereignty through CARE Principles and TK/BC Labels.
• SAFER Drinking Water Program Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience program providing financial assistance for drinking water systems, particularly for small and disadvantaged communities in California.
• Lead & Copper Rule Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.8% of California's single-walled storage tanks are now closed, preventing leaking fuel and hazardous waste from polluting water systems
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Internet of WatercoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to develop a process to ingest non-state Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom (FHAB) monitoring data into the California FHAB database. Collaborated on FHAB Data Ingestion Framework Recommendations and joint webinar presentations.
• The CommonscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborating organization in the FHAB Database Modernization project, working with Internet of Water, CA Tribes, and NGOs to develop data ingestion processes for non-state FHAB monitoring data.
• California Native American TribescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partnerships for water data initiatives through OIMA, including tribal data sovereignty engagement, SWAMP Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program realignment aligned with tribal traditions and subsistence, and the SeMMAP eDNA project working with tribal governments on data collection and analysis.
• California Water Quality Monitoring CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual California Water Data Science Symposium and partner in My Water Quality portal, Safe-to-Eat and Safe-to-Swim programs, and the California Cyanobacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom (CCHAB) Network.
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFW Aquatic Bioassessment Laboratory (DFG-ABL) serves as the SWAMP QA BMI referee laboratory. CDFW Office of Spill Prevention and Response Laboratory Program provides Continuous Low Level Aquatic Monitoring (C.L.A.M.) for pesticide screening.
• Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in bioassessment and water quality research, contributing expertise in coastal and estuarine water quality assessment, MPAs monitoring, and contaminants of emerging concern monitoring.
• US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA Region 9 water quality TMDL monitoring and collaboration. EPA approved the California bacteria water quality objectives amendments on March 22, 2019. EPA's Beach Act supports California's AB411 beach monitoring program.
• US Geological Survey (USGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSGS provides research presentations and selenium monitoring data for Northern San Francisco Bay, contributing to policy and regulation development through the SWAMP Brown Bag Seminar Series.
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDPH provides the regulatory framework for beach water quality (AB411), recreational waters oversight, and shellfish safety. Collaborates with State Water Board on bacterial objectives and public health protection.
• California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASQA co-hosted the 2022 Bacteria Summit with the State Water Board to identify technical and regulatory actions needed for waters safe to swim and shellfish safe to eat.
• California State Controller's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe State Water Board (as a pass-through entity for federal awards) directs recipients to the California State Controller's Office for single or program audit requirements under 2CFR 200.501 for entities expending $750,000 or more.
• Community Science OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeMMAP project partners community science organizations alongside tribal governments for eDNA sample collection and analysis, enabling meaningful engagement in decision-making processes.
• California State University San MarcosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSU San Marcos algae laboratory contributes to SWAMP bioassessment and algae taxonomy work.
• San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFEI contributes to pollutant load measurements, riparian assessment tools (RipZET), microplastic contamination research, and the California Water Quality Improvement Strategy through the Clean Water Program.
• Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLML Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory at Granite Canyon contributes to marine bioaccumulation monitoring as a SWAMP bioaccumulation partner.
• Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOEHHA manages the Fish Advisory Program and Safe to Eat Portal, providing public health guidance on fish consumption based on SWAMP bioaccumulation monitoring data.
• US Fish and Wildlife ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFWS collaborates on fish consumption advisory data and bioaccumulation monitoring as part of the SWAMP bioaccumulation partner network.
• Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists (SAFIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFIT supports standardized taxonomy for freshwater invertebrates used in SWAMP bioassessment programs.
• So. California Association of Marine Invertebrate Taxonomists (SCAMIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCAMIT contributes to marine invertebrate taxonomy standardization supporting coastal water quality monitoring.
• CalEPA (California Environmental Protection Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe State Water Board is one of six environmental entities operating under the authority of CalEPA, which includes ARB, CalRecycle, DPR, DTSC, and OEHHA. The CalEPA Building in Sacramento houses Water Board offices and hosts the Brown Bag Seminar Series.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arizona Department of Water Resources: Arizona state agency managing water resources, active management areas, and groundwater regulation in a heavily groundwater-dependent state. Comparable in integrating water rights and water supply oversight, though more groundwater-rights focused.
• Colorado Water Conservation Board: Colorado state agency administering water resources planning, water supply, and drought programs. Comparable state-level water authority though with stronger water rights and planning focus than water quality monitoring relative to California Water Boards.
• Texas Water Development Board: Texas state agency responsible for water planning, financial assistance, and water resource management. Directly comparable as a state-level water authority with permitting, financial assistance, and statewide oversight mandates — though Texas's scope leans more toward planning and financing than water quality monitoring.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Florida's lead state agency for environmental regulation including water resource management, water quality standards, and beach monitoring. Comparable in administering state-level water programs at scale, including coastal water quality (analogous to AB411).
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality: Oregon's primary state environmental regulatory agency, administering water quality standards, NPDES permits, and Clean Water Act §401 certifications on behalf of the state. Closely mirrors California Water Boards' water quality permitting and monitoring functions, though as a consolidated agency rather than a separate water-focused board.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: New York's state environmental agency administering water quality, water resources, and drinking water programs. Comparable mandate in administering state-level Clean Water Act programs, water resource permitting, and source water protection for a large state.
• Washington State Department of Ecology: Washington's state environmental agency with water quality, water resources, and Shorelands programs administering state-level water quality standards, NPDES permitting, and basin planning. Comparable mandate structure to the California Water Boards including drinking water oversight.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. EPA Office of Water: Federal water regulator overseeing Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act implementation nationwide. Acts as the upstream regulator whose standards California implements; deep partner relationship via TMDLs, bacteria objectives, and Beach Act programs.

Others

• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Regional wholesale water utility serving 26 member agencies across Southern California. Operates within the California Water Boards' regulatory jurisdiction and is a major regulated entity — relevant comparator for the regulated utility community interacting with the agency.
• San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI): California-based non-profit research institute that is a core partner of the State Water Board on pollutant load measurements, riparian assessment, microplastics research, and Clean Water Program. Operates as an enabling technical partner delivering science that informs Water Boards' regulatory decisions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CaWaterBoards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGArzB_cw0ZCPtBHravW2hA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaWaterBoards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/water-quality-control-board
• Instagraminstagram.com/ca.water.boards
• TikToktiktok.com/@cawaterboards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Water Quality Control Board