Anaheim, Brea, Yorba Linda – How’s YOUR Water?
Often, we hear about California’s water issues, or the Southwest’s water issues, but when was the last time you heard anything specific to your town or neighborhood? We often generalize water problems, but it’s not until they hit our own kitchen sink that we actually care enough to make a change, or even learn more about the problem. That’s why we decided to take an upclose look at the water in three of our neighboring cities: Anaheim, Yorba Linda, and Brea.
Anaheim’s Water Quality Report can be seen at http://www.anaheim.net/utilities/waterservices/LatestWQR.pdf. According to their brochure, they conduct more than 44,000 analyses each year to ensure that the water is safe and aesthetically acceptable. Anaheim’s water supply is a blend of groundwater from the city’s own wells, and water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Your particular water source depends on where you live or work within the boundaries of the community. Each of these sources is vulnerable to certain contaminants. Colorado River supplies are most vulnerable to recreation contamination, urban/storm water runoff, increasing urbanization, and wastewater. State Water Project supplies are considered to be most vulnerable to urban/storm water runoff, wildlife, agriculture, recreation and wastewater. The ground water is vulnerable to contamination from sources such as gas stations, dry cleaners, and industrial activities. The Anaheim area is subject to very hard water, with a range of 11-17 grains per gallon.
Yorba Linda’s Water Quality Report can be seen at http://www.ylwd.com/your-water-service/water-quality/water-quality-reports. Yorba Linda’s water supply is a blend of groundwater from our own wells and water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. As described above, these was sources are vulnerable to many different contaminants, so the groundwater is treated with chlorine and the imported water with chloramine. Yorba Linda also has very hard water, falling primarily within the range of 17.8 and 19.0 grains per gallon.
Brea’s Water Quality Report can be seen at http://www.cityofbrea.net/images/default/citydocs/PW/Brea2012WQR.pdf. According to this report, “The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.” Brea’s water sources are largely disinfected with the use of chlorine. Chlorine is added to the drinking water at the source of supply (groundwater well or surface water treatment plant). Enough chlorine is added so that it does not completely dissipate through the distribution system pipes. This “residual” chlorine helps to prevent the growth of bacteria in the pipes that carry drinking water from the source into your home. While chlorine is extremely effective at disinfecting water, there are generally unintended chemical byproducts produced. The Brea Water Quality Report discusses these contaminants but was not found to exceed state or federal allowable limits.
Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton encourages you to read your municipality’s water quality report. However, as you do, keep in mind that they do not test for every contaminant every single day. In the case Brea, some of their reported tests were over one year old. We actually applaud our city water suppliers – they do a fantastic job of providing safe water. However, if you’d like to rid your home of water spots and other signs of hard water, we invite you to call and learn more about our water softeners. Or, if you’d like to filter out all those drinking water contaminants that appear in “acceptable” amounts or that are yet unregulated, call to learn about our reverse osmosis drinking water systems.
