Return to Water Management
Introduction
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To recap, for many Californians, tap water likely originated from snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas, melted and flowed through a stream or river, was stored in a reservoir, released and conveyed through a water system including a network of canals, pumps, and pipes, and purchased by a member agency for distribution. Let’s pick up on the journey.
Your member agency, which could be your city, county, or local water district, secures and purchases the water supply for everyone in its jurisdiction to reliably deliver to its customers: you. Not only do the water agencies provide an ample quantity of water, they also ensure that drinking water meets or exceeds high water quality standards. |
Water supply diversification
We’ve already discussed California’s groundwater and surface water supplies, which not only make up a significant percentage of total potable water supply, but are also somewhat of an engineering marvel, with all the complexities of storage, transport, and allocation that come into play.
We’ve already discussed California’s groundwater and surface water supplies, which not only make up a significant percentage of total potable water supply, but are also somewhat of an engineering marvel, with all the complexities of storage, transport, and allocation that come into play.
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Even with the herculean effort required to maximize our surface water supply, the reality is that it isn’t enough to quench Californians’ thirst. Not only has the state’s water supply been jeopardized by periods of severe drought, but consequences due to climate change also now threaten that supply even further.
In response, and to ensure reliability for the future, water agencies work to utilize other sources to diversify their water supply portfolios. Some of these alternative sources include utilizing local water sources to the maximum extent, meaning adding recycled water (highly treated wastewater) and seawater (desalinated) into the mix. Those sources, in combination with extensive conservation efforts, can provide for ample water supply well into the future. These alternative sources and strategies will be discussed in more detail in other Actions. |
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Each water agency’s water portfolio is unique to their jurisdiction, and can include a variety of water sources. Here are two examples in our state:
An example of the diversity of water sources provided by agencies
Water treatment
Securing a diversified and reliable water supply for their customers is only one responsibility of your local water agencies. They must also install and maintain the infrastructure required for treatment and distribution, which can include water treatment plants, pipelines, pumping stations and storage tanks.
Securing a diversified and reliable water supply for their customers is only one responsibility of your local water agencies. They must also install and maintain the infrastructure required for treatment and distribution, which can include water treatment plants, pipelines, pumping stations and storage tanks.
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Water treatment is critical to supplying safe drinking water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. The EPA also allows states to impose their own standards, as long as they are at least as strict as the EPA’s standards. In California, the State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water is the overseeing agency under the regulatory authority of the California Health and Safety Code.
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The water in our reservoirs, lakes and rivers can accumulate all types of organic and inorganic materials. It is the responsibility of your water agency to monitor the water quality coming from the State's systems, and then treat incoming (raw) water to achieve a high degree of purity in order for it to be safe for people to drink. There are 90 contaminants that are regulated, and they can originate from both human and natural sources. Examples of human-caused threats to water quality include urban runoff from developed areas, which can be polluted with a variety of constituents including pathogens, nutrients, and metals, as well as nutrient-dense runoff from agricultural areas.
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Toxic discharges from industrial uses contaminate groundwater. Efforts are underway to reduce polluted runoff from entering state waterways, as well as remediation projects to remove chemical contaminants from industrial discharges to groundwater. |
Water treatment plants operate around the clock to deliver clean water 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Some treatment techniques for surface water include chlorine disinfection, ultraviolet light disinfection, ozonation, sedimentation basins, filtration and/or membrane filtration (a relatively new advance in water treatment technology). Some groundwater is treated using chemical removal and/or blending with clean water to achieve a diluted concentration to meet acceptable levels. Testing is regularly conducted prior to treated water entering the distribution system.
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Water distribution
After being treated, potable water is ready for distribution to your tap. The treatment plant is likely located in your region, and from there water makes its way through the distribution system, which consists of a network of underground pipes and pump stations, and in some areas also includes elevated storage tanks. The water agency monitors the water in the distribution system constantly for contaminants, like lead which can enter the system as pipes begin to deteriorate. Every effort is made to ensure that safe, clean drinking water is delivered to customers. |
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Water professionals
As you can see, water agencies undergo a great deal of planning, coordination, engineering, and science to deliver clean water to you. These professionals in a multitude of disciplines are needed to manage the flow of water, from source to tap. Ranging from skilled technicians to operate treatment plants, scientists to monitor water quality and ecosystems, engineers to design, build, and maintain infrastructure, and managers, board members and office staff to ensure smooth operations and interface with customers, water professionals provide vital services to each community they serve. - REWRITE |
Water resources, equity and the environment
While water agencies place top priority on providing reliable, clean, and affordable drinking water to all of their customers, approximately one million Californians still do not have access to it, and low income communities are disproportionately impacted.
Many of these communities are located in the heart of the agriculture-driven Central Valley, and rely on groundwater as their primary source. Some agricultural practices, such as overdrawing aquifers for irrigation and excess fertilizer use, result in increased pollutant concentrations in the water supply making the water unsafe to drink.
While water agencies place top priority on providing reliable, clean, and affordable drinking water to all of their customers, approximately one million Californians still do not have access to it, and low income communities are disproportionately impacted.
Many of these communities are located in the heart of the agriculture-driven Central Valley, and rely on groundwater as their primary source. Some agricultural practices, such as overdrawing aquifers for irrigation and excess fertilizer use, result in increased pollutant concentrations in the water supply making the water unsafe to drink.
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To address these concerns, California passed AB 685 in 2012, which declared that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water...". Although the legislation sparked positive state policies, providing safe drinking water to all is not yet fully realized.
In addition, the state water board manages extensive restoration projects to repair existing impacts, particularly to fish populations in streams, rivers, and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Diverting water away from people and providing it to support ecosystems continues to be a point of much debate. |
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Your water bill
Your water agency sends you a monthly or bi-monthly bill that includes charges for your water usage as well as fees to cover operating costs and sometimes fees for wastewater operations (if you don’t have a separate wastewater bill). In this action, you will look at your water bill and identify exactly what you are paying for, and you’ll calculate how much each gallon of water costs.
Your water agency sends you a monthly or bi-monthly bill that includes charges for your water usage as well as fees to cover operating costs and sometimes fees for wastewater operations (if you don’t have a separate wastewater bill). In this action, you will look at your water bill and identify exactly what you are paying for, and you’ll calculate how much each gallon of water costs.
Instructions
- Print this Data Collection Sheet, and grab a pencil.
- Follow the instructions on the data sheet to identify the charges on your bill, and then calculate the cost of one gallon of water.
- Report back to the city by clicking on the SUBMIT FINDINGS link below.
Evaluate and Report
Please submit your results to help your community plan for the future.
