In the environment, the San Bernardino springsnail inhabits slow flowing spring runs. In a 2005 study, J. Malcolm and others identified key habitat characteristics for this species. Specifically, the San Bernardino springsnail is highly associated with shallow aquifer water, meaning rain replenished groundwater. However, their research documented that habitat structural characteristics, like substrate type, vegetation density, water depth and water velocity, appeared more influential in habitat choice than water chemistry characteristics, like temperature, pH, standard conductance and dissolved oxygen). In 1987, D.W. Taylor described the habitat in which the first specimen was documented as a 100 foot spring that trickled over gravel, mud and detritus. In this environment, the San Bernardino springsnail was most abundant on substrate in the spring, like dead wood, leaves and stones. Substrate quality and abundance is an important habitat attribute for the San Bernardino springsnail, as hard substrates provide grazing and egg-laying opportunities.

The San Bernardino springsnail grazes on periphyton, which is a community of algae, bacteria, fungi and micro-invertebrates, that grows on underwater substrate, as documented by G.C. Mladenka and G.W. Minshall in 2001.

In 1994, R. Hershler described the species as follows a narrow-conic shell, with a height 1.3 to 1.7 millimeters and 3.25 to 4.0 whorls, or twists, ovate operculum, or shell opening, and a light amber, central radular tooth with indented dorsal edge, cephalic tentacles pale, with a pale to gray-black snout, or nose, foot pale, opercular lobe black and neck pale. This species has 14 ctendial filaments, or gills, that are short and narrow. The defining characteristic of the Pyrgulopsis genus is the male genitalia. The San Bernardino springsnail’s distinctive penis is medium-sized, with filament shorter than base, tapering, with lobe absent. This species is distinguished from other forms by its smaller ventral gland, or sexual organ, and continuous transition between penis base and filament.

Springsnails are strictly aquatic, with respiration occurring through an internal gill. Springsnails in the genus Pyrgulopsis are egg layers with single small egg capsule deposited on a hard surface, as documented by R. Hershler in 1998. The larval stage is completed in the egg capsule, and upon hatching, tiny snails emerge into their adult habitat, as R.C. Brusca and G.J. Brusca described in 1990. The sexes are separate, with females being noticeably larger than males. Mobility is limited, and significant migration likely does not occur. The life span of most springsnails is 9 to 15 months, as documented by R.W. Pennak in 1989. Water temperature can play a large role in recruitment and population sizes for Pyrgulopsis species, as noted by G.C. Mladenka and G. W. Minshall in 2001.

In 2017, R. Hershler and H-P. Liu documented that the San Bernardino springsnail is one of 13 described springsnail species in Arizona: Pyrgulopsis arizonae, Pyrgulopsis bernardia and Pyrgulopsis trivialis, which were described by D.W. Taylor in 1987, as well as Pyrgulopsis bacchus, Pyrgulopsis conica, Pyrgulopsis glandulosa, Pyrgulopsis montezumensis, Pyrgulopsis morrisoni, Pyrgulopsis simplex, Pyrgulopsis sola and Pyrgulopsis thompsoni, described by R. Hershler and J. Landye in 1988, Pyrgulopsis deserta, described by H.A. Pilsbry in 1916 and Pyrgulopsis hualapaiensis, as described by R. Hershler, H-P. Liu, and L.E. Stevens in 2016.