M5.4 Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) and Water Quality

The Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for the water I receive for my home is from the City of San Diego. Most of the water in San Diego is purchased from suppliers and is then treated at one of three water treatment plants. There is not enough water to supply the entire population, so San Diego imports its water from the San Diego County Water Authority, which purchases it from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The water is sourced from the Colorado River and the State Water Project. Some of the water is also sourced from melted snow, springs and tributaries at the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, all the way up in Northern California. There is a 444-mile long California Aqueduct that delivers the water. Rainwater is also collected within San Diego at nine different impounding reservoirs. I never knew that the travel time was quite so long for the water in my home!

I was not surprised to find that despite filtration from the city, certain chemicals and particles still remain in the tap water in San Diego. Chemicals such as arsenic and nitrate and minimal amounts of bacteria are present. Moreover, sodium, total hardness and alkalinity  are all significantly elevated in comparison to the average levels of purchased water. This could be concerning for individuals who are predisposed to cardiac and kidney disease. While I do not used a filter for my water, I also do not drink the water from my faucet. I primarily drink bottled water in hopes that it will reduce chemical and particulate matter intake.