Your water agency rigorously and regularly tests the water it delivers to your home or business, and because we know exactly what is in your water, we can confidently say that regional tap water is a great, convenient, and cost-effective choice to drink every day. The details of each water agency’s unique chemical water makeup are explained, tracked and documented as part of annual consumer confidence reports (CCR) that outline testing results over the past year. These reports advance the goal of being transparent about testing results and underscore the safety of tap water.
Let’s tap in a little deeper into these water reports and their significance.
What are Consumer Confidence Reports?
The California State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water requires every water agency to issue a consumer confidence report to ensure that customers have access to current information about the water they drink. These reports compile comprehensive data about water quality, health impacts, and note any possible contaminants in a provider’s water, both naturally occurring and human-made.
It is important to note that not all “contaminants” are created equally. For instance, some reports might list levels of chlorine as present in water, but in typical cases, the presence of chlorine is beneficial to reduce harmful bacteria and germs. In fact, some agencies add chlorine to water in carefully measured and tested volumes to manage other contaminants.
In this report, your water agency will also describe where its’ water comes from, minerals present, and thresholds set by the state and federal government. Each report will look unique and be tailored to the specific service area’s water source portfolio. However, the goal is the same: Be transparent and clear about the safety of tap water.
Why should I review my Consumer Confidence Report?
We are confident in the quality of our region’s tap water, but we recognize that safe water is not necessarily available around the globe. We understand that customers may have questions about the quality of water to ensure that it is safe to drink, and CCRs allow water agencies the opportunity to proactively provide answers about the testing and treatment done before water gets to your house.
If you are interested in learning more about the quality and safety of your tap water, visit your water provider’s website and find its most recent report. It will take you behind the scenes and show you what is in your water and what your agency is doing to keep delivering safe tap water.
Take a look at consumer confidence reports from a few of our partner agencies such as Western Water and Eastern Municipal Water District. Both include educational information about contaminants of interest, including PFAS, and water quality tables to be sure that readers understand the impacts of the data in the reports.
Does bottled water have Consumer Confidence Reports?
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the water quality of bottled water, they do not require bottled water brands to issue consumer confidence reports. The downside of this is that customers do not have the opportunity or access to really understand what is in bottled water or how it is sourced. When drinking local tap water, you can read all about the quality of your water, be reassured that data is being collected and reported, and save money while you’re at it.
We encourage everyone to visit their local water agency website to review the most recent consumer confidence report to check out what makes their local drinking water safe.
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