Who Regulates San Diego Water Supply?
Some other organizations overseeing San Diego s water quality include:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates 120 different contaminants in public water systems.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates contaminants in bottled water.
This yearly Drinking Water Quality Report explains where the City's water comes from, what it contains, and how it meets health standards.
Next, look at what was lurking in San Diego's water…
San Diego's Annual Water Quality Report
Is San Diego's water safe to drink?
The city's Public Utilities Department takes their job very seriously, and their hard work has paid off!
The City's tap water fulfilled all federal and state drinking water health standards, which are primary standards for treating and monitoring water, based on water quality monitoring data collected in 2021.
But, and this is a big BUT….
Legal does not always mean it’s safe for everyone to drink.
In other words, a passing mark from the federal government doesn't mean it meets the most recent research and health guidelines.
Environmental Working Group's Water Quality Report
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit organization that publishes consumer food products and water quality reports.
Ultimately, their standards are a lot more strict than the federal government’s.
San Diego tap water met all federal health-based drinking water standards assessed by the U.S. EPA, but…
In their most recent report, they discovered 16 cancer-causing contaminants above safe levels, including:
- Arsenic: 23x
- Bromate: 5.9x
- Bromodichloromethane:161x
- Bromoform: 13x
- Chlorite: 5.5x
- Chloroform: 16x
- Chromium (hexavalent): 2.1x
- Dibromoacetic acid: 89x
- Dibromochloromethane: 125x
- Dichloroacetic acid: 22x
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5): 96x
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9): 302x
- Radium, combined (-226 & -228):27.9x
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs): 241x
- Trichloroacetic acid: 14x
- Uranium: 4.2x
The EPA does not monitor or control many of these compounds, even though early research shows they can cause harm to humans.
Installing an in-home water filter can remove up to 99.9% of harmful pollutants, but more on that later…
Where Does San Diego Get Its Water?
Historically, the city’s water needs have far outpaced the local water and rain supply.
That means they have to transport most of their water from other areas.
In fact, San Diego gets roughly 85% to 90% of its water from Northern California and the Colorado River.
The water supply in San Diego is linked to the Colorado River Aqueduct, which was initially built to bring water to Los Angeles.
The Aqueduct links to the State Water Project, which runs from Sacramento to San Francisco and draws raw water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The City's Public Utilities Department is actively looking for ways to expand the local water supply and options.
How does San Diego clean and treat their drinking water?
Keep reading to find out!
Treating San Diego's Drinking Water
The City's Public Utilities Department operates three water treatment plants that use a variety of treatment processes.
Most heavy particles are removed from raw water via three steps: coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation.
The leftover smaller particles are then removed by filtration, resulting in clear water.
After that, the water is treated to eliminate viruses, bacteria, and other pathogenic organisms.
Disinfection methods vary between treatment plants.
The Alvarado and Miramar treatment plants disinfect the water with ozone, while the Otay Water Treatment Plant uses chlorine dioxide.
This step is called primary disinfection.
Secondary disinfection is then used to help prevent microbial contamination in the water distribution system.
This is done by combining chlorine and ammonia in water to form chloramines.
Last but not least, they adjust the water’s pH to protect the distribution pipes from corrosion.
Testing and Monitoring Water Quality
Drinking clean and safe water helps prevent illness, birth defects, and even death.
To ensure that the water is safe for humans, public water systems are routinely tested to ensure that water pollutants do not exceed the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Levels.
The City's Public Utilities Department offers high drinking water by implementing proven technology, modern facilities, and state-certified operators.
Water is treated using many processes, each improving water quality slightly more.
The treatment plants in San Diego use a combination of tried-and-true traditional water treatment processes and cutting-edge disinfection techniques.
This cost-effective, time-tested treatment method is used all over the world today.
Contaminants Threatening San Diego's Water Supply
Arsenic is a naturally occurring heavy metal that has the potential to cause cancer and other health issues.
While San Diego's arsenic levels did not exceed the EPA’s water quality standards, consumers should know that the EPA's standard weighs toxicity against the costs of removing it.
In other words, they let low levels slide because they don’t have the money to remove them.
We strongly advise that tap water with more than 1 part per billion of arsenic levels be treated, especially in homes with children.
The EPA does not regulate chromium 6, a highly toxic metal.
According to EWG testing, San Diego Water has Chromium 6 levels as high as 0.36 parts per billion.
This is up to 18 times the level generally accepted as safe!
The California EPA has acknowledged that drinking water containing Chromium 6 can increase the risk of stomach cancer and reproductive issues.
Lead is not a municipal concern, but it may be present in your pipes if your home was built before 1986.
Furthermore, federal regulations cannot account for levels measured at a single, privately-owned tap.
Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a class of emerging contaminants that are commonly found in:
- Firefighting foam
- Teflon
- Non-stick surfaces
- Stain-resistant surfaces
- Food packaging
- Increased risk of cancer
- Lower fertility rates
- Developmental issues in infants and young children
PFAS were found at military bases in San Diego County, including Camp Pendleton, Coronado Warner Springs, and TwentyNine Palms.
5. Disinfection Byproducts
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are a type of emerging contaminant that results from the reaction of chlorine-based disinfectants with naturally occurring organic matter.
DBPs are classified into two types by the EPA:
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
According to the EPA, DBPs have been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer and kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.
Uranium and radium are radioactive metals that occur naturally.
However, they're also produced as a byproduct of nuclear power plants.
Fortunately, that's under the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level Goal of 5 ppb.
What Can You Do to Keep Your Family Safe?
The EPA has some recommendations to keep you and your family members safe.
First and foremost, you should test your tap water.
If your water contains lead, filtration and softening solutions can remove it.
Other alternatives include:
- Run your tap if it hasn't been used in several hours
- Keep an eye out for any work that may disturb your main service line
- Only use cooler water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula (because lead dissolves faster in hot water)
- If you have a lead-based service line, replace it
Should San Diegans Use In-Home Water Filters?
San Diegans should use an in-home water filter because it will:
- Get rid of bad odors and tastes
- You can enjoy high-quality drinking water
- Extend the shelf life of your appliances by reducing corrosion
- Reduce the presence of both known and unknown toxins in your water
- Less spotting on glasses and dishes and cleaner laundry
- Reduce your reliance on bottled water
- Allow no tank switches or media needs changing for up to ten years
- Save you money
A high-quality filtration system ensures your family has safe, delicious drinking water.
Cloud Water Filters remove up to 99-9% of contaminants and monitor your water quality 24/7 with built-in software.
