Regional monitoring addresses broader scale questions than addressed by core monitoring such as, is it safe to swim? is it safe to eat my catch? is the marine ecosystem being protected? Key components include pollutant mass emissions, public health effects, natural resource status, cumulative regional impacts from all contaminant sources, and determination of whether the beneficial uses of the ocean are protected.

The Sanitation Districts participate in several regional monitoring programs including the Southern California Bight Regional Surveys, Bay Restoration Commission's Comprehensive Monitoring Program (CMP), State of the Bay Report, Central Region Kelp Survey Consortium (CRKSC), and Central Bight Water Quality Cooperative. Because multiple agencies are involved in regional monitoring efforts, the results are reported in publications authored by the organizing agency or steering committee overseeing the monitoring program.