Water & Groundwater Safety

Is My Water Safe?

Water contains a variety of minerals and chemicals. There is no such thing as "pure" water in nature, and in fact, some chemicals and minerals in water are essential to human health. To ensure that water delivered to you by your water supplier is safe to drink, all public water systems that serve drinking water in the state must meet stringent requirements and are monitored regularly to ensure its safety.

The quality of the water is tested by certified laboratories and the results of those tests must be acceptable to the California Department of Public Health, who regulates these systems, or else it cannot be served to the public. In particular, the water cannot exceed maximum levels for various chemicals and other constituents in the water. They are required to report the results of those tests to customers annually in Consumer Confidence Reports by July 1 of each year. By monitoring water systems regularly, customers can be assured that the water they drink meets all regulatory requirements.

For more information please visit the California Department of Public Health's website or read Setting California's Drinking Water Quality Standards by Hoover Ng, WRD's Water Quality Program Manager.