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Is my tap water safe to drink?
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| Yes! Your water meets all state and federal drinking water standards. These standards were set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Health Services to ensure safe drinking water. Your drinking water contains no herbicides, pesticides, industrial solvents or bacterial pathogens. |
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Is there lead in my drinking water?
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An in-depth study and ongoing analysis have shown that the ACWD water supplied to your home contains no detectable lead. Our source water contains no lead and no lead service lines are used in our service area. Our detection limit for lead is less than two parts per billion. To put this in perspective, two parts per billion is the equivalent of two inches compared to twice the diameter of the Earth!
If there are lead-soldered copper pipes or brass faucets in your home, these may be acting as a source of lead in your water. The brass in most faucets (even chrome-plated faucets are brass underneath) contains between 5% and 8% lead. To eliminate the risk of lead exposure from such faucets, take these simple precautions:
- Flush Your Tap: When water stands in lead soldered pipes or brass fixtures for several hours or more, lead may dissolve into drinking water. Whenever the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours, lead that may be present may be significantly reduced by running the water from the tap, usually for about a minute, before using it for drinking or cooking. Conserve water whenever possible by using the first flush to wash the dishes or water the plants.
- Use Cold Water for Cooking: Avoid cooking with water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly than cold water. If hot water is needed, water can be drawn from the cold tap and heated on the stove or in the microwave.
- Check Home Wiring: Have an electrician check the house wiring. If grounding wires from electrical systems are attached to household plumbing, corrosion and lead exposure may be greater.
If you would like more information on having your tap water tested for lead, you may call the ACWD Laboratory at (510) 668-6520. If you would like more information on certified water treatment devices that may reduce lead in your tap water, please visit the California Department of Health Services website |
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What happens if the water supply becomes contaminated?
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| If, at any time, the water supply fails to meet the strict water quality standards mandated by the government, the Water District must notify you, the consumer, of the failure. |
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How do I contact ACWD regarding problems with my drinking water?
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| If you are experiencing difficulties with your water quality, please call the Alameda Couty Water District Water Quality Laboratory at (510) 668-6522 and ask for John Marchand. |
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Why does my drinking water taste funny?
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| If you recently moved from an area where the water contained very few naturally occurring minerals, your new water may taste different due to the minerals it contains. Just as various brands of bottled water taste different due to the varying levels of different minerals they contain, so the taste of domestic drinking water varies with its source. It could be that you're simply not used to the new taste yet. |
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Why is my drinking water discolored?
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White, foamy, or cloudy water:
The cloudiness in your water is being caused by tiny air bubbles. This air was under pressure in your water pipes, much like carbon dioxide in a bottle of soda. When you turned on your tap the pressure was released, allowing the bubbles to appear, just as removing the cap from a soda bottle causes the soda to fizz. If you allow a glass of water to stand for a few moments, the air bubbles will rise to the surface. This phenomenon is called entrained air and does not affect the quality of your water - it is perfectly safe to drink.
Blue water:
The blue disinfectant you use in your toilet could cause discoloration of your tap water. If your water supply was recently turned off, a condition may have been created in which water from the toilet tank was siphoned into the plumbing of your house. Voila - blue tap water. Do not drink this water. These disinfectants contain chemicals that may pose health hazards if ingested or touched. Flush your plumbing by opening each tap until the water runs clear. If you have any doubts, contact the ACWD laboratory at (510) 668-6522.
Green water:
Standing water sometimes has a greenish cast to it. Fluorescent lights will make your water appear green, as will tiny traces of copper leached from the pipes in your home. Greenish water is most commonly associated with seasonal blooms of algae in the water supply, a condition that in most cases poses no health hazard.
Brown or yellow water from either tap on the FIRST DRAW:
The internal plumbing of your house is probably the culprit if discolored water only appears for a minute or two after your tap is turned on. When the zinc coating on the inside of galvanized iron pipe begins to wear thin, water becomes discolored as it comes in contact with bare iron. The longer the water sits in the pipes, the worse the discoloration will be. That's why you are most likely to notice the problem first thing in the morning or when you have just returned from school or work. After running your tap for a few minutes, clean water from your water heater or water main will replace the discolored water. Since iron is an essential nutrient, this condition poses no health hazard. If the discoloration bothers you, however, flush the tap until the water becomes clear, saving the water for iron-loving plants.
Brown or yellow water from either tap, CONSTANTLY:
Sediments in water mains sometimes get stirred up when fire hydrants are used and when the flow of water in mains is reversed. These sediments may cause your water to turn brown or yellow. Thirty to forty minutes after you notice the discolored water, try turning on the cold water in your bathtub for a minute or two. You'll probably notice that it clears right up, since sediments settle quickly back to the bottom of water mains. Discolored water due to sediments such as these poses no health threat, but for aesthetic reasons you should avoid doing laundry until the water clears up.
Crystals:
The crystals or sediment left behind after water evaporates is calcium carbonate. This is a naturally occurring mineral, identical to the calcium found in your bones and in most calcium supplements. If these deposits appear green, blue, or brown, they have been colored by tiny amounts of the metals found in your water pipes. Carbonate deposits can be dissolved with white vinegar. Dishwasher deposits can be minimized by using a commercial conditioner, by using liquid detergents and by using the "air-dry" instead of the "power-dry" setting on your dishwasher, which bakes the carbonates onto glassware. Calcium carbonate poses no health hazard. In fact, some studies have shown health benefits from drinking water containing moderate amounts of calcium. |
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How do I disinfect a Drain?
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| A perceived odor of rotten eggs or sewage in the water is usually caused by sewer gases forming in the household drain. These gases are formed by bacteria which live on food, soap, hair, and other organic matter in the drain. These gases are heavier than air and remain in the drain until the water is turned on. As the water runs down the drain, the gases are expelled into the atmosphere around the sink. It is natural to associate these odors with the water because they are observed only when the water is turned on. However, the odor is not in the water, it is simply the water pushing the gas out of the drain.
To eliminate this problem, the bacteria in the drain must be killed. This process is called disinfecting the drain and is outlined in the following six steps.
Caution: do not mix any drain cleaners or detergents with bleach; certain combinations can create toxic fumes.
- Run the cold water for about 15 seconds into the drain that is to be disinfected, then turn the water off.
- Pour approximately one to two cups of liquid chlorine bleach (laundry bleach) down the drain (or drains) where the odor is present. Pour the bleach slowly around the edges of the drain so that it runs down the sides of the drain. Caution: bleach may cause eye damage, skin irritation, and may damage clothing - BE CAREFUL!
- If the odor is coming from a sink with a garbage disposal, turn the disposal on for a few seconds while the bleach is being poured. This will disperse the bleach around the inside of the disposal. Caution: bleach may cause eye damage, skin irritation, and may damage clothing - take care to avoid splashing for the few seconds the disposal is turned on.
- Allow the bleach to remain undisturbed in the drain for about 10 minutes. Caution: prolonged contact with metals may cause pitting and/or discoloration.
- After 10 minutes, run the hot water into the drain for a minute or two to flush out the bleach. If a garbage disposal was disinfected, thoroughly flush it as well.
- This procedure may need to be repeated if the odor returns.
Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power web site |
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How do I Heat Disinfect a Water Heater?
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| A sulfurous or rotten egg-like odor in the hot water is caused by bacteria growing in the water heater. This usually happens when the water heater is turned off while on vacation, when the hot water has not been used for a long time, or when the temperature setting on the heater is set too low. The bacteria in the water heater are not a health threat; however, they must be eliminated to stop the odor problem.
The procedure for eliminating the bacteria is called heat disinfection. It is a complex procedure that involves draining the water heater, maximizing the temperature in the water heater, and then draining the water heater again. This procedure is outlined in the following steps.
- One evening, drain the water heater: turn the thermostat on the heater off so that only the pilot light remains on. If the heater is drained while the heating flame is on, the heater may be damaged.
- Turn off the water supply to the water heater. There may be a valve to do this right at the inlet to the water heater, or the water supply to the entire property may need to be shut off at the house valve.
- Open one or more hot water faucets inside the house. This allows air to enter the heater as the water drains out in step 6.
- Attach a garden hose to the draincock located at the bottom of the water heater. The draincock usually looks like a regular hose bib (garden faucet) or a round dial with a threaded hole in the middle.
- Extend the garden hose to a place where the water can be disposed of (e.g. a drain, the driveway, etc.).
- Open the draincock and allow all of the water to drain out of the water heater. This can take anywhere from five minutes to half an hour or more depending on the capacity of the heater and the size of the draincock. Caution: the water that drains out will be very hot. Also note that if the draincock is made of plastic and the water heater is several years old, it may be difficult to open and may break easily if forced.
- When the water heater is empty, close the draincock and remove the garden hose.
- Turn the water supply to the water heater back on. Leave the hot water faucet(s) inside the house turned on. This will allow the air in the water heater to escape as it refills with water. There will likely be "hissing" sounds and/or "spitting and sputtering" as air and water begin coming out of the hot water faucets. When the water flow from the faucet(s) returns to normal, shut them off.
- That night (before going to bed): turn the thermostat for the water heater to its highest temperature setting for one night. Caution: make sure everyone who uses the water is aware that the hot water is going to be hotter than usual.
- The next morning: turn the thermostat on the heater off so that only the pilot light remains on. If the heater is drained while the heating flame is on, the heater may be damaged.
- Drain and refill the water heater by repeating steps 2 through 8.
- Return the thermostat on the water heater to the normal setting (usually around 130°F).
If you do not feel comfortable doing this work yourself, hire a licensed plumber to do it for you.
Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power web site |
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How do I flush a water heater?
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| Water heaters should be flushed at least once a year - twice a year is even better - to control the build-up of mineral deposits. This will help the water heater operate more fuel efficiently and will usually extend the life of the heater.
Furthermore, the water heater will need to be flushed if the hot water becomes a yellow or brownish color due to an accumulation of rust or if you find sand-like mineral sediment in the hot water.
The procedure for flushing your water heater is outlined in the following steps.
- Do not shut off the gas or the water supply to the heater.
- Attach a garden hose to the draincock located at the bottom of the heater. The draincock usually looks like a regular hose bib (garden faucet) or a round dial with a threaded hole in the middle.
- Extend the garden hose to a place where the water can safely exit the heater (e.g. a drain, a driveway, etc.).
- Open the draincock to allow the water to exit the heater. Caution: the water leaving the heater will be hot and under normal household water pressure. Also note that if the draincock is made of plastic and the heater is several years old, it may be difficult to open and may break easily if forced.
- After five minutes of flushing, fill a bucket with the still flushing water.
- Allow the water in the bucket to stand undisturbed for a minute and see if the water is clear or if any sand-like material settles to the bottom. If the water is clear and no sand-like material is observed, go on to step 7. If the water is discolored and/or sand-like material is observed at the bottom of the bucket, repeat steps 5 and 6 until the flush water is completely clear and free of sediment.
- Close the draincock and remove the garden hose.
If you do not feel comfortable doing this work yourself, hire a licensed plumber to do it for you.
Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power web site |
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How do I flush my household pipes?
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A bleachy or chemical taste and odor in the water in your home or business is often caused by an accumulation of organic material in the plumbing. This organic material can be eliminated by flushing your water pipes. This procedure is outlined in the following steps.
- Remove the screens (called aerators) from the ends of the indoor faucets and run all of the faucets wide-open and simultaneously for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Flush the toilets two or three times each while the faucets are running. Running all the water faucets and toilets simultaneously generates a large flow of water through the pipes and will hopefully dislodge any build-up of organic material that is causing the taste and odor problem. Removing the aerators before flushing the plumbing will prevent anything dislodged from accumulating on the screens.
- After 3 to 5 minutes of flushing, turn off the water faucets, clean the aerators, and reinstall the aerators on the ends of the faucets.
Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power web site |
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BUSINESS HOURS:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday — Friday (except holidays)
(510) 668-4200
Driving Directions
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MAILING ADDRESS:
Alameda County Water District
43885 S. Grimmer Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
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