The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) is responsible for developing and enforcing water quality objectives and implementation plans that will best protect the beneficial uses of the State’s waters. Over the past 25 years, the Regional Water Board has monitored surface waters for the presence of pathogenic bacteria potentially indicative of water contamination. Sources of these bacteria include the natural environment (soils and decaying vegetation), stormwater, urban runoff, animal wastes (both wildlife and domestic animals), and human sewage.
