GAMA – Groundwater Ambient Monitoring & Assessment Program

What is GAMA?

The Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program is California's comprehensive groundwater quality monitoring program.

What's in Your Groundwater?

GAMA collects data by testing the untreated, raw water in different types of wells for naturally-occurring and man-made chemicals. GAMA compiles these test results with existing groundwater quality data from several agencies into a publicly-accessible internet database, GeoTracker GAMA.

Why GAMA is Needed - Even if You Do Not Have a Water Well

Over 95 percent of Californians get their drinking water from a public or municipal source - these supplies are typically treated to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

Using CDPH data, there are an estimated 1.69 million residents in California that are served either by the estimated 600,000 private domestic wells or by community water systems serving fewer than 15 service connections.  The CDPH does not regulate the quality of water from these sources. 

Those served by public or municipal supplies should be concerned about groundwater quality too. About 40 percent of Californians rely on groundwater for a portion of their drinking water. Contaminated groundwater results in treatment costs, well closures, and new well construction which increases costs for consumers.

A large portion of California is in a semi-arid climate. Clean water is critical for society and the environment, and also helps sustain business, industry, and agriculture.

GAMA Program Background

The GAMA Program was created by the State Water Board in 2000. It was later expanded by Assembly Bill 599 – the Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001. The main goals of GAMA are:

• to improve statewide groundwater monitoring
• to increase the availability of groundwater quality information to the public.

There are four active GAMA projects:

• Priority Basin Project (updated 7/16/10)
• Domestic Well Project
• Special Studies Project
• GeoTracker GAMA

Major groundwater supply basins are a specific focus of the GAMA program. The legislatively mandated program (AB 599) is funded by Proposition 50 and from special fund fees.

Visit the links on this page to learn more about groundwater quality.