Why is There Anything in My Water?
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. We need to make sure our water is clear and clean for our kids and family with the Waterboy Whole House water filtration system. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems.
- Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.
Our Imported Water Supply and the Impact on Water Quality
The City of San Diego imports an average of 85 percent of its water. This imported water is provided by the San Diego County Water Authority, which purchases water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Ultimately, our imported water is a blend of Colorado River water and State Water Project water (see map). Throughout the year, the blend changes.
Several forces negatively impact the quality of water from the Colorado River and State Water Project. The Colorado River winds through thousands of miles of unprotected watershed containing towns, famers, old mining sites and industrial sites.
