The Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program

The Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program is California's comprehensive groundwater quality monitoring program that was created by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) in 2000. It was later expanded by Assembly Bill 599 - the Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001. AB 599 required the State Water Board, in coordination with an Interagency Task Force (ITF) and Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to improve statewide comprehensive groundwater monitoring and increase the availability to groundwater quality information to the public. The GAMA Program is based on interagency collaboration with the State and Regional Water Boards, Department of Water Resources, Department of Pesticide Regulations, U.S. Geological Survey, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of CA and CA State University, and cooperation with local water agencies and well owners.

Over 36 million California residents get their water from a safe to drink public source, while nearly 2 million are served either by a private domestic well or smaller water systems (less than 15 service connections). Private domestic well owners are encouraged to test their well water quality regularly.

California is very reliant on groundwater supplies. Nine out of ten public water systems rely on groundwater for at least a portion of their supply. Having access to safe, clean water is critical to sustain society, the environment, business, industry, and agriculture. Comprehensively monitoring groundwater quality under the GAMA Program is an important part of managing our water resources.

For more information on public drinking water systems visit the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) Program website or contact a DDW Water District.