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 RWCF Office
Hours:
8
am - 5 pm, Monday
- Friday (209) 937-8700
Service
Center & 24-Hour Emergency Number:
(209) 937-8341
Who provides Water Service at my address?
Who provides Garbage Service at my address?
Below you'll find answers to frequently asked questions
relating to Stockton Municipal Utilities. Click on the topic to go
directly to that topic, or scroll down the page to view all of the
questions and answers.
General Water Questions
Where does our water
come from?
Our water comes from groundwater (wells) and surface water
supplied to us by Stockton East Water District.
What is the water pressure in
my area?
Pressure varies
throughout the day, it's usually anywhere from 45 to 55 psi.
Are all water mains in
the middle of the street?
No, they are also behind the curb and below gutter flowlines,
and in some cases in a customer's backyard.
Does the City of
Stockton locate services for customers?
No. We will locate only if the customer has a leak or if they
are replacing their lines.
How deep are service
lines?
We suggest they be no deeper than 18 inches. In some cases
they are 2-4 feet deep.
Why do city employees take a boat out on the river ?
We are required by the State of California Regional Water Quality
Control Board to monitor the quality of the water in the San
Joaquin Delta because we discharge treated sewage into the Delta.
While out on the river we check oxygen levels, pH ( acidity or
alkalinity ) and temperature of the water. We also collect samples
which are returned to the laboratory for further analysis.
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Water
Quality
Is my water safe to drink
?
The City of Stockton, along with all other purveyors of drinking
water, is required by the State of California Department of Health
Services to conduct extensive testing of the water they supply to
the public; this is mandated by a regulation known as Title 22.
The results of this testing are provided to the public by means of
an annual water quality report which is usually mailed to rate
payers in the spring of the year. This report lists all
contaminants for which analyses are performed, and gives the
average, high and low levels of the contaminant which were
detected in the analyses. Copies of this report are available from
the Municipal Utilities Department. If you have any questions
regarding interpretation of these results, call Randy Harrison, Water Operations Supervisor, at 937-7135 or send him an email.
Why does my water have a "brown" or "reddish" color?
Sometimes when water crews are isolating valves it causes
disturbance in the water lines and can cause harmless sediment
such as iron manganese to flow through the line. The sediment can
be flushed out by opening the outside hose bib. The water will not
harm pipes and it is not unsafe, but it would be best to flush at
the front hose bib and run the outside irrigation system until
clear. If after following these procedures, the problem persists,
field staff can be dispatched to investigate.
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Water
Meters
Does every meter have a
leak detector on it?
No. Older meters will not have a leak detector. A leak
detector is a small triangular shaped feature visible on the face
of the water meter. If the leak detector is moving, while all
fixtures, or faucets are shut off, that usually indicates water is
being lost somewhere. If the house valve is turned off and the
leak detector is moving, that usually indicates that the service
line is leaking. (The pipe feeding water to the house from the
water meter.)
Does the City of
Stockton replace meter boxes (new subdivision) when a contractor
breaks them?
All meter boxes are installed at the time the subdivision is
being established. If the contractor is calling and says the meter
box is broken, it is his responsibility to replace it. If he calls
and says the meter box is missing or that there is no meter box,
it could have possibly been removed by another contractor,
however, it is the contractor's responsibility to replace the box.
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House
Valves
Where is my house valve
located?
House valves will be a pipe extending from the ground, below a
faucet that's feeding water into the house. It can be in front,
back, or side of the house. Generally, if the meter is in the
front yard, the house valve will be in the front yard, etc. In
some cases, especially in older homes, the house valve may be
buried below ground.
Does every house have a house
valve?
No, although
sometimes in older homes the valve might be below the ground, and
therefore not visible.
Can the City of
Stockton pinpoint a leak for a customer?
No, we can only show them where the water is surfacing.
Water
Pressure/Volume
What is the difference
between pressure and volume?
Pressure is the amount of water you get in force (PSI), and
volume is the amount of water you are capable of receiving through
your line.
What if my water
pressure seems low?
Check your house valve to make sure it is fully opened. Most
times on service calls, the house valves are partially open,
especially if the customer has just moved in or if it is a new
home. Once the house valve is fully open, the volume of water will
be sufficient.
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What if
the problem is not the house valve?
Internal
When a customer calls and complains of "low pressure", it is
usually not a low pressure complaint, but a low volume complaint.
If the problem is inside the home (internal), it is a volume
problem - not pressure.
If the problem is at a particular fixture or faucet inside the
home, that faucet or aerator screen might possibly be plugged.
Remove and clean the aerator or faucet screen and see if that
solves the problem. If this procedure does not resolve the "low
pressure" at that particular faucet, then a plumber should be
called because the problem is internal. All internal problems are
not the City of Stockton's responsibility.
External
If you have recently installed a new irrigation system and are
experiencing low pressure in the irrigation system, the system was
probably "over-designed". The customer will need to modify their
system or contact a plumber.
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Pools
Can I fill my swimming
pool?
During the period between June 1st and October 1st, the water
conservation ordinance restricts citizens from draining and
refilling their existing swimming pools. However, there are
instances when a variance can be granted. If a customer requests a
variance against this restriction, they need to send in writing
their request to the Municipal Utilities Department and briefly
state their reason for needing to drain and refill their existing
swimming pool.
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Stockton,
CA 
