Water
WATER QUALITY

   RWCF Office Hours:
8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday (209) 937-8700
Service Center & 24-Hour Emergency Number:
(209) 937-8341

View 2007 Public Health Goals Report
(published June 2007)
View 2007 Water Quality Report in pdf format

(published May 2008)

View 2006 Water Quality Report in pdf format

(published May 2007)

View 2005 Water Quality Report in pdf format

(published May 2006)

PUBLIC NOTICE
City of Stockton Groundwater Wells

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Article 16, Section 64449, the City of Stockton Department of Municipal Utilities may use groundwater sources that historically exceeded secondary maximum contaminant levels in the upcoming high demand months of July through September, 2008. Secondary contaminants are regulated by the Department of Public Health for aesthetic reasons only. The detected constituents exceeding the secondary standards were listed in Table 1b of 2007 Drinking Water Quality Report contained in the June 2008 utility bill. The only secondary constituents exceeding the standards established by the State of California were iron and manganese. These constituents are not a health hazard, but rather have the potential to impart color or taste in the drinking water. Current water utility operations avoid the use of these sources; however, peak water demand caused by extremely hot weather or disruptions to the water delivery system may necessitate the use of these water sources.

If you have any question regarding your water supplies, please contact the Department of Municipal Utilities at 937-8700.

The Safe Drinking Water Act
The United States Environmental Protection Agency sets water standards and monitoring requirements intended to safeguard the quality of our water supply as established in the U.S. Save Drinking Water Act of 1974 as amended. In California, the Department of Health Services have the option of either adopting the U.S. standards or of setting more stringent ones. In many cases, California's standards are more stringent than federal standards. Water quality standards are set based on research, data collection, and analysis by health experts. Standards for most of the items listed on the back of this page (water quality report table) have already been established by either the state of California, or the U.S. government. Your water supply meets all federal and state drinking water standards. 

California Public Information Requirement
The California Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring Regulations, Title 22, require all water utilities to provide an annual water quality report to every customer. This report is provided in accordance with these regulations and indicates the concentration of microbiological contaminants, minerals, physical agents, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radioactivity that are present in our water supply.

In addition to the required monitoring and testing, the City has conducted monitoring for 49 additional organic chemicals for which no standards have been established. Laboratory results indicate that none of these chemicals are present in the water supply. 

The City of Stockton's Water Utility 
In 2003, the Water Utility delivered over 10.7 billion gallons of water to 120,000 customers residing in north and south Stockton. Approximately 40 percent of the water supplied to the system came from City owned wells, with the remainder supplied by the Stockton East Water District (SEWD).

The City of Stockton Water Utility has been receiving treated surface water from SEWD since 1977. Use of this water source has enabled the City to reduce the extraction of groundwater in our area and help conserve this valuable water resource. Treated surface waters have different characteristics that many of our customers have noticed. Water hardness, taste and odor are but a few of these characteristics that are different from the groundwater supply that was the sole source previous to 1977. The blending of treated surface water with our groundwater supply varies from point to point throughout our system due to the seasonal demands of our customers. The quality of the surface water delivered to the City from SEWD meets all requirements set by the State and Federal government. Once a year, usually during winter months, the City of Stockton conducts an extensive water main flushing program throughout the system to ensure that customers receive clean, clear water by removing sediment that builds up in water mains over time. Fire hydrants are opened for short periods of time at various locations under controlled conditions. During the flushing procedure, customers may experience low pressure and some discoloration of water from the tap as the harmless sediment flows to waste. If your tap water appears cloudy during this brief period, simply flush the water from all faucets in your home for a few moments until the water clears. 

The people that operate your Water Utility are committed to providing you with the highest quality water available, with the most effective customer service, at the lowest possible cost, consistent with all applicable State and Federal regulations and requirements.

Water Conservation Month
The Governor has declared May as Water Awareness Month. The City offers lawn watering guides and conservation materials to help all our customers save this precious resource while lowering monthly water bills. Contact Courtney Malcolm at (209) 937-8705 for further information.