PHWD Water Quality
Together with the SFRWS, we regularly collect and test water samples from reservoirs and designated sampling points throughout the system to ensure the water delivered to you meets or exceeds federal and State drinking water standards. In 2021, the SFRWS conducted more than 48,320 drinking water tests in the sources and the transmission system. This is in addition to the extensive treatment process control monitoring performed by SFRWS’s certified operators and online instruments.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the SWRCB prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.
Annual Water Quality Reports
Water quality results are published annually in the PHWD Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs).
- 2021 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF)
- 2020 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF)
- 2019 Consumer Confidence Report (Available Soon)
- 2018 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF)
- 2017 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF)
- 2016 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF)
- 2015 Consumer Confidence Report (PDF)
Drinking Water Sources and Treatment
Most of our drinking water supply comes from the San Francisco Regional Water System (SFRWS), which is a wholesaler owned and managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The supply consists of surface water and groundwater that are well protected and carefully managed by the SFPUC. These sources are diverse in both the origin and the location with the surface water stored in reservoirs located in the Sierra Nevada, Alameda County and San Mateo County, and groundwater stored in a deep aquifer located in the northern part of San Mateo County. Maintaining this variety of sources is an important component of the SFPUC’s near- and long-term water supply management strategy.
To meet drinking water standards for consumption, all surface water supplies including the upcountry non-Hetch Hetchy sources (UNHHS) undergo treatment by the SFRWS before it is delivered. Water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is exempt from federal and State filtration requirements but receives the following treatment: disinfection using ultraviolet light and chlorine, pH adjustment for optimum corrosion control, fluoridation for dental health protection, and chloramination for maintaining disinfectant residual and minimizing the formation of regulated disinfection byproducts. Water from local Bay Area reservoirs in Alameda County and UNHHS is delivered to Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP); whereas water from local reservoirs in San Mateo County is delivered to Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant (HTWTP). Water treatment at these plants consist of filtration, disinfection, fluoridation, optimum corrosion control, and taste and odor removal.
In 2021, no UNHHS water was used. However, a small amount of groundwater from four wells was added to the SFRWS’s surface water supply through blending in the transmission pipelines.
Taste, Odor, or Discolored Water Issue?
Opening a faucet or two in your home or business, or an outside spigot, to let the water run for a couple of minutes should resolve it. Remember to capture the water in a bucket to use for watering indoor plants or outdoor landscaping!
Depending upon the water turnover in the mainline serving your connection, or seasonal fluctuations in water treatment by San Francisco Water, a temporary water quality issue could be quickly resolved with a mini-flushing of your service line.
You can now use PHWD's Online Water Quality Self-Diagnosis Tool to help determine possible causes and solutions of typical water quality issues experienced in a home. If the problem persists, please contact us at 650-948-1217 or online here.
Watersheds Protection
The SFRWS conducts watershed sanitary surveys for the Hetch Hetchy source annually and for non-Hetch Hetchy surface water sources every five years. The latest sanitary surveys for the non-Hetch Hetchy watersheds were completed in 2021 for the period of 2016-2020. All these surveys, together with SFRWS’s stringent watershed protection management activities, were completed with support from partner agencies including National Park Service and US Forest Service. The purposes of the surveys are to evaluate the sanitary conditions and water quality of the watersheds and to review results of watershed management activities conducted in the preceding years. Wildfire, wildlife, livestock, and human activities continue to be the potential contamination sources. You may contact the San Francisco District office of the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (SWRCB) at 510-620-3474 for the review of these reports.
Special Health Needs
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly people and infants, can be particularly at risk from infection
These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater
Groundwater Storage and Recovery (GSR) Project
Groundwater is a renewable source of naturally-occurring fresh water that is found in underground and is replenished primarily by rainfall. The use of groundwater helps diversify water sources and makes drinking water supply even more reliable. The SFRWS completed installation of eight deep-water wells in its GSR project Phase 1. In 2021, some of these wells intermittently delivered water during the startup test to blend with the surface water supply in the north San Mateo County. For the past decade, the SFRWS has collected water quality and quantity data from the Westside Basin aquifer, from which the groundwater is extracted. With extensive monitoring and testing, the SFRWS knows that after adding groundwater to its water supplies, it will continue providing us with high-quality drinking water that meets or exceeds the federal and State regulatory health-based and aesthetic standards.
Monitoring of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS is a group of approximately 5,000 man-made, persistent chemicals used in a variety of industries and consumer products. In 2021, our wholesaler conducted a second round of voluntary monitoring using a newer analytical method adopted by the USEPA for some other PFAS contaminants. No PFAS were detected above the SWRCB’s Consumer Confidence Report Detection Levels in surface water and groundwater sources. For additional information about PFAS, you may visit SWRCB website www.waterboards.ca.gov/pfas and/or USEPA website www.epa.gov/pfas
Fluoridation and Dental Fluorosis
Mandated by State law, water fluoridation is a widely accepted practice proven safe and effective for preventing and controlling tooth decay. Our fluoride target level in the water is 0.7 milligram per liter (mg/L, or part per million, ppm), consistent with the May 2015 State regulatory guidance on optimal fluoride level. Infants fed formula mixed with water containing fluoride at this level may still have a chance of developing tiny white lines or streaks in their teeth. These marks are referred to as mild to very mild fluorosis, and are often only visible under a microscope. Even in cases where the marks are visible, they do not pose any health risk. The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) considers it safe to use optimally fluoridated water for preparing infant formula. To lessen this chance of dental fluorosis, you may choose to use low-fluoride bottled water to prepare infant formula. Nevertheless, children may still develop dental fluorosis due to fluoride intake from other sources such as food, tooth paste and dental products.
Contact your healthcare provider or the SWRCB if you have concerns about dental fluorosis. For additional information about fluoridation or oral health, visit the SWRCB website www.waterboards.ca.gov or the CDC website www.cdc.gov/fluoridation
Lead and Drinking Water
Exposure to lead, if present, can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially for pregnant women and young children. Infants and children who drink water containing lead could have decreases in IQ and attention span and increases in learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. There are no known lead service lines in our water distribution system. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but we cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to remove lead from drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and may wish to have your water tested, call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Regional Offices at (415) 947-4406 or go to www.epa.gov/lead for a lead test. Information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at USEPA website www.epa.gov/safewater/lead
As previously reported in 2018, PHWD completed an inventory of lead user service lines (LUSL) in our system and there are no known pipelines and connectors between water mains and meters made of lead.
State Revised Total Coliform Rule
The 2021 Water Quality Report reflects changes in drinking water regulatory requirements during 2021, in which the SWRCB adopted California version of the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule. The revised rule, effective on July 1, 2021, maintains the purpose to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbials (i.e., total coliform and E. coli bacteria). Greater public health protection is anticipated, as the revised rule requires water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems. Water systems that exceed a specified frequency of total coliform occurrences are required to conduct an assessment to determine if any sanitary defects exist. If found, these must be corrected by the water system.
Lead and Copper Tap Sampling Results
PHWD conducted Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) monitoring on October 1, 2019, and these tap sampling results are accessible at www.waterboards.ca.gov. The next round of LCR monitoring will be conducted in 2022.