Water Quality

Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, San Francisco — Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant – San Francisco

What Is Water Quality ?

Water quality is the chemistry, biology, and appearance of water used for recreation, agriculture, industry, washing and bathing, and drinking (ingestion). Safe water has sufficiently low concentrations of impurities and contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, pesticides, petroleum products, and dissolved minerals to be harmless for the intended use, but may not have appealing physical characteristics. A human immune system, however, can be undeveloped (i.e., infants) or compromised (e.g., elderly, illness) to the extent that the individual’s health may be susceptible to safe water (tap water).

Water quality is affected by natural sources of pollution, including

radon
fluoride
arsenic
mercury
heavy metals
radionuclides
micro-organisms
nitrates and nitrites

and human sources of pollution, including

landfills
piping lead solder
cattle lots and dairy farms
underground storage tanks
industrial and household wastes
agricultural fertilizers and pesticides
private sewage disposal (septic tanks)

How Is Water Quality Regulated ?

California Water Boards Drinking water statutes are codified in the Code of Regulations – Title 17 and 22 – Corporations Code, Education Code, Food and Agricultural Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Public Resources Code, and Water Code. Regardless of the water’s source (e.g., wells, rivers, lakes), public tap water is filtered to remove impurities and treated to kill microbes. Water used for industry, farming, and recreation typically has multiple safety standards ranging from ingestion (Maximum Contaminant Levels ) to irrigation (recycled water ). Federal storm water runoff regulations (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) mandates filtering of rainwater from impervious surfaces (e.g., roofs, hardscaping, roads) and agricultural land before it reaches the waters of the United States (e.g., rivers, lakes, estuaries).

How Are The Physical Properties Of Water Quality Improved ?

In addition to health qualities, water has physical qualities (secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels ), including

odor
color
turbidity
dissolved solids
taste and temperature

While water’s physical qualities generally are not health hazards, they are vital components of water’s usability, including the effectiveness of soap, scale build-up in water heaters, sensory appeal for drinking. The most common causes of poor physical quality are dissolved minerals which cause the hardness in well water from calcium and magnesium in the ground aquifer, the alkalinity of river and lake water from limestone in the watershed, and the salinity of river water from ocean intrusion in deltas.

Bottled water companies typically control physical qualities by distilling the water, which removes all contaminants and ions including municipal chlorination, and adding-back some dissolved solids. Household water softeners which use salt filtering may be a health hazard from added sodium and decreased calcium and magnesium in an occupant’s diet.

How Is The Water Quality Of Private Wells Regulated ?

The Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate private water wells. California uses about 20% of all groundwater in the US, mostly for agricultural irrigation. About one-half of Californians get their drinking water from wells. Of that, 1.4 million residents get their drinking water from 600,000 private wells. Domestic well purity treatment systems include activated alumina filters, activated charcoal filters, air stripping, anion exchange, chlorination, reverse osmosis, ozonation, and ultraviolet radiation.

Cities and counties in California have authority to adopt state well standards monitored. 39 of California’s 58 counties and one-third of tis 429 cities have adopted well standards, which may be more stringent for local conditions. For those who have not, the Regional Water Quality Boards have adopted minimum state standards for them.

It is the responsibility of the well owner to ensure that their domestic well water is safe. Private well drilling and abandonment (only by C57 contractors) and septic systems are regulated by cities or counties. Private wells near landfills, industry, dry cleaners, gas stations, and/or automobile repair shops should test for volatile organic compounds, metals, total dissolved solids, and petroleum hydrocarbons. Private wells near agricultural and livestock areas should test for pesticides, nitrate, bacteria, and total dissolved solids. Commercial testing laboratories are certified by the state.

Building in California

Your Statewide Guide for the California Building Codes

What Is Water Quality ?

How Is Water Quality Regulated ?

How Are The Physical Properties Of Water Quality Improved ?

How Is The Water Quality Of Private Wells Regulated ?

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