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Reports and Studies > Water Quality > Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Water Quality
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Is my water safe to drink?
Is my water safe to drink?
Standards for safe drinking water have been established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in the State of California by the Department of Public Health. Palmdale Water District meets or exceeds all of these standards so you can be assured that your water is safe to drink. A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is mailed to all customers in our service area every year. It is also available to download on our website. This report contains levels of different constituents found in the water supply during the previous sampling period and their health implications on humans. For a copy of the CCR call our district office at (661) 947-4111 or click here to view it online. For more information on CCR please click here to visit the California Department of Public Health website.
Why is my water milky and white in appearance?
Why is my water milky and white in appearance?
Milky water is usually due to air bubbles being present inthe water. If the bubbles rise to the top and the water clears from the bottom of the glass to the top in a few minutes, the milkiness is due to air. Air is prevalent in well water and about 40% of the water supplied by palmdale Water District comes from local well water sources. We have air relief valves at different locations in our water distribution system to allay this problem but weather conditions dictate how much dissolved air is released from the water. When cold water saturated with air attains ambient temperature, the air is released in the form of minute air bubbles. Air in your water is not a health hazard. On the other hand, if your water contains very fine "floc" that settle slowly to the bottom of the glass, the milkiness may be caused by corroding galvanized pipe in the plumbing, causing a high level of zinc in the water. Call our district office at (661) 947-4111 so we can investigate the problem.
Should I be concerned if my water is colored, rusty, or contains foreign particles?
Should I be concerned if my water is colored, rusty, or contains foreign particles?
If you have just returned from vacation or a tap in one part of your house has not been opened for several days, discolored water may run from the tap for a while and the water usually clears up quickly. This is because stagnant water in iron pipelines or faucets will promote corrosion and cause rusty colored water. Occasionally, a home water treatment device such as a water softener or carbon filter may malfunction and release ion exchange resin beads or fine charcoal particles respectively. These are identified since the ion exchange beads are round and look like orange sand or fish eggs while the carbon filter particles are black. Softening the water may also make the water more corrosive than water with some hardness and therefore cause corrosion to the house plumbing system. For this and other reasons, it may be advisable to soften only the hot water that is used mostly for washing and bathing, especially if you are on a low sodium diet. If you believe the problem is from our water supply, please give us a call at (661) 647-4111 so that we can perform a thorough investigation.
The water is causing scale on my cooking utensils and my glassware is becoming coated with white film spots, what is the cause and what can I do?
The water is causing scale on my cooking utensils and my glassware is becoming coated with white film spots, what is the cause and what can I do?
Spots on glassware or scale on taps and cooking utensils is due to water hardless. Hardless in drinking water is caused by two minerals, Calicium and Magnesium. If water contains substantial amounts of these minerals, the water is said to be hard because making lather with soap for washing is difficult (hard). However, water is safe to drink regardless of its hardness. Hardness is measured in parts per million of Calcium Carbonate which is identical to the mineral found in calcium vitamin supplements and in milk. For this and other reasons, it may be advisable to soften only the home water that is used for washing and bathing, especially if you are on a low sodium diet. If you believe the spots and white film on your utensils and glassware is from a source other than the hardness in your water, please give us a call at (661) 947-4111 so we can perform a thorough investigation.
I believe my family became ill from drinking tap water. Is this possible?
I believe my family became ill from drinking tap water. Is this possible?
Water supplied by the Palmdale Water District is under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Public Health and we comply with the strict standards and regulations of this department. Samples of water are taken regularly from selected points in the distribution system for bacteriological and chemical analysis to ensure that the water is safe for consumption at all times. However, if you have installed a home treatment device such as a water softener, reverse osmosis system, activated carbon filter, faucet filter system, dispenser or pitcher, the quality of water supplied by Palmdale Water District cannot be guaranteed. If you do not follow the manufacturer's maintenance and filter cartridge replacement instructions, you may be introducing bacteria to an otherwise safe water supply. Also, note that your drinking water is not the only thing that can make you sick. Food, especially unwashed fruits and vegetables and undercooked meat and meat products are more likely the sources of illness. Consult your physician and be ready to provide his or her name if it has been determined that your drinking water is the source of your illness. The information you give us will help in sampling and analyzing the water sample from your house for possible contamination. Call our district office at (661) 947-4111.
Can the chlorine in my tap water cause skin irritation?
Can the chlorine in my tap water cause skin irritation?
The physical and chemical characteristic quality of our water supply is consistent. WE perform bacteriological tests on the water every week and general pysical characteristic on a monthly basis at locations representative of our distribution system. However, if you just moved into our water service area from a community with substantially different water chemistry, it may take some time for your body to adjust to these changes. You should also be informed that other conditions have been proven to cause skin irritation. It is a known fact that certain detergents can cause skin irritation from some people. A recent change in the type or brand of skin care products, like soaps, lotion, shampoos, etc. can lead to skin irritation. Dryness of the skin is common in the winter months and bathing or showering will compound the problem because water will wash oils out of the skin. Chlorine residual is maintained in the water supply to serve as disinfectant. The level of chlorine in your treated water is safe to drink, too low to harm your skin and will not be absorbed into the skin and get into your body. If you experience skin irritation, we suggest you consult your physician. If you physician concludes that your skin ailment is from the water supply, give us a call at (661) 947-4111 with your doctor's information so that we can determine the necessary anaylsis to perform on the water sample from your residence.
What is causing our water to smell and taste funny?
What is causing our water to smell and taste funny?
At certain times of the year, particular types of algae or green mossy growths are present in the raw water reservoirs. These algae impart seasonal taste and odor and are usually confied to short periods. Growth of algae can be destroyed by treatment with copper sulfate. We have deloped a treatment program for Palmdale Lake in which we vary our copper sulfate dosage with the level of algae growth from spring to fall. This practice has substantiall reduced the incidents of taste and odor problems in our distribution system. Lake circulation devices called Solar Bees® have been strategically located at seven spots on the lake to induce continuous water movement, thereby preventing the occurrence of major algae blooms. We also have a distribution system-flushing program to ensure that water quality is maintained and dead ends in the system.
People have called to complain that they smell and taste chlorine inthe water. Chlorine is added to water to destroy disease-causing bacteria. Some residual chlorine is maintained in the distribution system to prevent possible re-growth. Even though the chlorine dosage at the filter plant and our well sites is low and closely controlled, few very sensitive customers detect it. Your water is safe to drink but if you are very sensitive to chlorine smell and taste, you can install an activated carbon filter (also called an absorbtion filter) purchased from a reputable manufacturer. Information about this kind of device can be obtained visiting the Drinking Water Program website at the California Department of Public Health. However, please note that you must follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions for the device to be effective.
Kitchen and bathroom faucets are places where odor complaints are common. The source of the complaint has often been traced to a partially blocked sink drain or garbage disposal. The sink odor may be misconstrued as coming from the tap water. If your kitchen or bathroom sink seems to be the only place where you smell the water, collect a glass of water from the tap and walk away from the sink. If the odor is not evident from the glass but evident when standing over the sink, it can be concluded that the odor is coming from the drain. The screen on the sink tap can also be a source of organism growth and odor. Cleaning and sanitizing the screen, drain, and sink with a bleach solution will usually eliminate the problem.
After eating certain foods like cranberries, spinach, or foods with peppermint flavoring, the water may seem to have a peculiar taste. When a person is ill, certain food or medicine can cause an assumed water taste and odor. If you have been away on vacation for a while, it may be necessary to flush your tap to clear the line of smelly, stagnant water. Improper care of home treatment devices like a softener, carbon filter, reverse osmosis system, etc., may be a source of poor taste and odor. Water heaters need to be drained periodically since bacteria that can cause poor tastes and odor may thrive in the warm water and affect the house plumbing. If you believe the odor problem is from our water supply, please give us a call at (661) 947-4111 so that we can perform a thorough investigation.
There is oil in my water. What is the cause and what can I do?
There is oil in my water. What is the cause and what can I do?
If your water service has been interrupted for a repair, the pipe joint compounds or cutting oil used during plumbing repair can be released when water service is restored. Flux used for installation of copper pipes has a greasy, "chicken fat" appearance. You should remove the faucet screens and aerators and flush the material out of the plumbing by running the tap for about two minutes. Wash the screens and aerators with soap and water before you re-install them. If your service has not been interrupted when you notice oil in your water, call our district office at (661) 947-4111. We will then perform a thorough investigation of our distribution system to determine if the source of the oil may be from malfunctioning motors and pumps.
We found a worm, insect or insect larvae in our water. How did they get there?
We found a worm, insect or insect larvae in our water. How did they get there?
When vegetables are washed in the kitchen sink, insects or bugs can be washed from the these materials and remain in the sink or drains until water is added to the sink again. Insects or bugs can crawl into a faucet and come out into the wash basin, sink, or bathtub when the water tap is opened. Earwigs and tiny earthworms can crawl into lawn sprinkler heads that are not fully retracted, especially after rainstorms, and find their way into the home plumbing system. They may end up in the kitchen sink or bathtub when the taps are turned out. Larvae may grow in flowerpots or pet dishses because of exposure to the atmosphere. Rats, gophers, and snakes have been known to crawl into toilet bowls located on the first or ground floor via the sewer. We have a flushing program to circulate water in dead end water mains and our production is based on demand so that we do not retain water for a long time in our distribution system. This practice eliminates stagnant sections in our reservoirs thereby preventing habitats for insect or worm activities. However, if you believe that bugs or worms enter your tap water via our water service, please call our district office at (661) 947-4111. We will launch a thorough investigation to find the source of the problem.
My fish are dying because of something in the water. If the water can kill my fish, what will it do to me?
My fish are dying because of something in the water. If the water can kill my fish, what will it do to me?
Water that is safe for human consumption may not necessarily be safe for your fish aquarium. A reputable fish aquarium store will emphasize the need to de-chlorinate your tap water before you use it to fill your aquarium, but note that over de-chlorinating the water may also lead to oxygen deprivation. Lack of oxygen in the water will kill fish. Some fish are very sensitive to pH or other water quality characteristics. Home water treatment devices may change these characteristics and result in fish death. Your water supply is intended for safe human consumption, it is important that you modify it for use in your aquarium. Modification includes pH adjustment, alkalinity adjustment, de-chlorination, etc. Certain types of aquarium fish can be very sensitive to constituents normally contained in the water supply.
A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is mailed to all customers in our service area every year. This report contains levls of different constituents found in the water supply during the previous sampling period and their health implications on humans. For a copy of the CCR, call our district office at (661) 947-4111 or click here to view it online. For more information on CCR, please click here to visit the California Department of Public Health website.
We encourage you to consult a reliable fish supplier regarding the living requirements of the fish you purchase and make sure those requirements are met.
I want to file a water quality complaint. What do I need to do?
I want to file a water quality complaint. What do I need to do?
You can call us at (661) 947-4111 or visit our district office at 2029 E. Avenue Q, Palmdale, CA 93550 for any water quality complaint.
*Please inform the representative that you wish to file a water quality complaint.
*If filing the complaint by phone, please give your name and the phone number you are calling from inthe event that you get disconnected.
*Provide the complaint address, your mailing address (if different) and a phone number where you can be reached between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekdays.
*State the nature of your complaint.
*Keep in mind that, at your convenience, we may need to visit the complaint address to collect water samples.
We will investigate your complaint and work to resolve the problem. If it is necessary to test your water, our Water Quality staff will arrange to collect a water sample from your residence. By mail, we will send our laboratory analsys results, a letter explaining what we have done or what we will do, and what we think you should do to prevent the problem from occuring again.
How do I find out what is in my water? Are local reports available to the public?
How do I find out what is in my water? Are local reports available to the public?
A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is mailed to all of our service addresses for customers in our service area each year. It is also available to view on our website. This report contains levels of different constituents found inthe water supply during the previous sampling period and their health implications on humans. To request for a copy of he CCR to be mailed to you, call our district at (661) 947-4111. Click here to view the CCR online.
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