FAQs - Water Quality

The following is a list of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) for your convenience. If you require further assistance or have additional questions, contact the Water Quality Hotline at (909) 395-2678.

Q. How can I find out what's in my water?

A. Every year the City of Ontario publishes and mails to all customers an annual Water Quality Report. The free report gives the results of the tests it does in order to make sure your water meets federal and state drinking water regulations. It also explains where your water comes from and includes other useful information. The report is available in English and Spanish. To request a hard copy, please call (909) 395-2678.

Q. Who is making sure that my water is safe and healthy to drink?

A. California has very strict regulations for the quality of tap water. There are also laws and additional state and federal agencies that help keep harmful things out of drinking water sources. Your utility must make sure that your water meets these requirements. Southern California utilities have an excellent record for delivering water that is as good or better than required. If for some reason your water did not meet the health and safety regulations, you would be notified immediately. Each of us also has a responsibility to take care of the drinking water on our property. For example, if you use a water filter, make sure you change the filter often so bacteria does not grow inside and spoil the water. Clean out your older plumbing or drains properly so that your water doesn't collect odd smells, tastes or colors. While a funny color, taste or smell usually doesn’t mean your water is unsafe, you still may want to correct the problem.

Q. What is done to purify the water before it comes out of the tap?

A. Water that comes from rivers, lakes and streams goes through many steps of treatment and checkpoints before it is ready to drink. The water is screened to remove larger materials, run through very fine filters and then disinfected to kill germs. The water is checked throughout the system to make sure that it meets all regulations.

Q. Why does my water sometimes look dirty, cloudy or have a funny color?

A. From the time your drinking water is purified at a treatment plant until it pours from your tap, there are a lot of chances for it to pick up things that can change the way it looks. Sometimes this happens as close as your home’s own plumbing. Water is cloudy when air gets in and makes tiny bubbles. The bubbles are harmless and will disappear if you let the water sit in a glass for a few minutes.

Usually when water looks dirty or has a funny color, it’s because of changes in the way that the water delivery system is being operated. When the direction that water flows in the pipe is changed—for maintenance work on a water main, when a fire hydrant is broken in a car accident, or there is a break in a water main— materials at the bottom of the pipes get stirred up. Often, the water only looks dirty for a short time. You should not drink it until it looks clear. One way to speed the dirty water out of your own pipes is to run all of your faucets for a few minutes. If the water is still not clear, then do the same thing again every half hour or so. The problem should go away within two to four hours. If it does not, call the Water Quality Hotline at (909) 395-2678.

Q. Why does my water sometimes taste or smell funny and is it safe to drink?

A. Many people think that if their water tastes or smells funny, it will make them sick if they drink it. In fact, the things that most commonly cause tap water to taste or smell strange aren’t harmful to drink. When your water tastes or smells funny, the problem might be in the water or it may not. You see, odors may actually be coming from your sink drain where bacteria grow on hair, soap, food and other things that get trapped. Gases in the drain that smell get stirred up when water pours into the pipe. Odor can also come from bacteria growing in water heaters—usually ones that have been turned off for a while or have the thermostat set too low. The list below describes where many odd tastes and smells come from.

CHLORINE

Chlorine is added to tap water to make sure that any harmful germs in the water are killed. When you can taste or smell a bit of chlorine, your water has been properly treated. There are regulations that limit the amount of chlorine added to tap water so that it keeps the water safe to drink. An easy way to get rid of the chlorine taste and smell is to let water sit in a glass for a few minutes. Then, put the water in a covered container and chill it in the refrigerator. Cold water tastes and smells better than water at room temperature.

EARTHY OR MUSTY

Algae, which are plants that live in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of water get into open-air reservoirs that store large amounts of our drinking water. Sometimes algae are not controlled by the usual treatment and naturally make substances that can give your water an earthy or musty smell, but is not harmful in the small amounts found in water. This happens most often in the warmer months when the sun heats up the water and grows food for the algae.

ROTTEN EGGS OR SULFUR

This smell can occur when the source of the water is underground. The smell is from a chemical made by a bacteria and is not harmful in the small amounts found in water. The same smell can also be made by bacteria that grow on hair, soap and food in your drain.

TIPS FOR GETTING RID OF FUNNY SMELLS

Since some smells in tap water may be due to problems with your sink drain or water heater, there may be things you can do. To find out if the smell is coming from your sink drain or water heater, rather than the water itself, answer the following questions.

If the answer is no — the smell comes from all the faucets and it does not go away in a few minutes, then the problem is likely in the water. To be sure, take a clean glass and go to the hose bib at the front of your property. Make sure to disconnect any hoses before running the water. Open it to its fullest, and run it for a few minutes. After that, fill the glass straight from the tap and smell it. If the water is better at the front faucet than at the faucets inside your property, you should flush your plumbing system by running all the faucets for a few minutes. If the odor is really strong and does not go away, contact the Water Quality Hotline at (909) 395-2678.

Q. Why does my water leave spots on my glasses, coffeepot, and showerhead?

A. There are minerals in water that are white and settle when water is heated, cooled, or evaporates. The spots contain nothing harmful. Filling your coffeepot with vinegar and letting it sit overnight usually removes the spots. Make sure to rinse well before using. You can also clean your showerhead by soaking it in a vinegar-filled bowl. There are some store products you can use to avoid spotting when glasses are washed and allowed to air dry.

Q. Should I buy bottled water or water at vending machines or water stores?

A. Water that is bottled or sold in vending machines or water stores costs many times more per gallon than your tap water and it is not necessarily any safer to drink. Every source of water, whether it is tap water or some type of bottled water, has to meet very strict health requirements.

It is important to be an informed consumer if you choose to drink something other than tap water. If you purchase water that is sold in vending machines or water stores, be sure that their treatment systems are properly serviced and maintained. This means, for example, that filters have to be cleaned often. Find out the source of the water–if it is truly a mountain spring or just the same household tap water run through a special filter. And, if you have health concerns, check to see how the water is treated. Ask what specific contaminants the treatment process removes.

Q. Do I need to purchase a home treatment device to make my tap water safe?

A. Most people do not need to purchase a home treatment device (e.g., a water filter) to make water safe. That’s because your tap water already meets very strict government regulations for quality.

If, however, you are considering buying a home treatment device because of health concerns (e.g., you have a severely compromised immune system), make sure that the device is certified by the California Department of Public Health (DPH). DPH certifies more than 350 home treatment devices that claim to reduce toxic chemicals or provide better health protection. All devices that make such claims must be state certified to be legally sold.

This includes carbon filters, distillation, reverse-osmosis, ion-exchange and ceramic filters. You can call DPH at (916) 449-5600 for more information about their certification program or log onto their website.

If you want to improve the look, taste or smell of your tap water, a home treatment device can be the answer. Performance of these types of devices is certified by the independent National Sanitation Foundation. For more information call (800) 673-8010 or log onto their website.

If you do decide to purchase a home treatment device, remember the following:

Q. Should I boil my water?

A. On very rare occasions, the local health department or the City may issue a notice to boil your water. This may happen when there is an earthquake or other emergency. Otherwise, unless you have a severely weakened immune system or your doctor advises you, you do not need to boil your tap water. It already meets strict state and federal regulations for quality.

Q. Do I need a water softener?

A. No one needs a water softener to make tap water safer. A softener removes the dissolved minerals that make water hard but are not harmful. The hardness of water is different throughout Southern California and depends on the water source. Softer water has both good and bad features. Some of the good things include a softer feel to hair and skin, the need to use less dish soap and laundry detergent (because soap lathers more quickly in soft water), and less mineral deposits in pipes and on pots and pans, glasses and cars.

Many water softeners add sodium to the water, which may be a concern for people on sodium-restricted diets. Additionally, many water softeners add sodium to the wastewater discharge. In the Inland Empire, we turn our wastewater into recycled water and use it to irrigate parks and golf courses, and for other allowed uses. By utilizing recycled water where appropriate, we preserve limited potable water supplies for drinking and other household uses. Residents that remove their water softeners may qualify for a rebate. For information about rebates that are available for the removal of water softeners, you may call the Inland Empire Utilities Agency at (909) 993-1550 or visit their website at http://www.ieua.org/rebates/softener/softener.html.

Q. Is there lead in my water?

A. There might be lead in your water, particularly if you have a brass or bronze faucet or live in an older house or apartment that used lead solder (the material that joins copper pipes) in the plumbing system. Brass and bronze both contain lead.

Lead solder has been banned since 1986, which means that lead from inside plumbing should not be a problem in newer houses and apartments. The City of Ontario does not have lead connections in the water delivery system and follows regulations that help stop lead from getting into tap water.

The chance of having a lot of lead is most high when you first turn on the tap. Due to the water being in contact with the faucet, pipe and fittings. Just let the water run for a few minutes. That will flush the water that may have higher levels of lead from your pipes.

Q. Is there fluoride in my water?

A. Fluoride occurs naturally in sources of tap water. Many water utilities in other parts of the country add more fluoride to their water. It’s not as common in California. Drinking water with the right amount of fluoride has been shown to reduce the risk of cavities, especially for children. The City of Ontario does not add flouride to the water supplied to customers. Check out our Water Quality Report.

Q. Can pregnant women drink tap water?

A. If you are pregnant and have any questions about drinking water straight from the tap, talk to your doctor.

Q. Can people with HIV/AIDs or weakened immune systems drink tap water?

A. Water utilities must meet over 90 different drinking water requirements for tap water to keep people healthy. People with severely weakened immune systems are not always protected by these standards because they are based on reducing risks for people in good health. For example, for people with weakened immune systems, a microscopic parasite called Cryptosporidium can be a serious concern because it can cause a life-threatening illness. The chance of finding Cryptosporidium in water served by Southern California utilities is quite small. When it is, it is at low levels. People with severely weakened immune systems should talk to their doctor about possible alternatives to tap water.

Q. How can I disinfect my drain?

A. Strange smells coming from your drain are caused by bacteria. To disinfect your drain take these steps. One important thing – do not mix any drain cleaners or detergents with bleach; some combinations can create poisonous fumes.

Q. How do I treat water during an emergency?

A. Sometimes you may need to treat your water during an emergency (e.g. an earthquake) when the water’s safety may be in doubt. You can treat your tap water by either boiling it, or disinfecting with unscented household liquid bleach or commercial disinfection tablets. For the best taste, chill the water before drinking.

Option One: Bring water to a rolling boil and then boil rapidly for at least one minute. Allow the water to cool before drinking. This is the preferred method.

Option Two: Add unscented household liquid bleach to tap water. Add 8 drops per gallon (16 cups) of water. Stir, cover and let sit for 30 minutes before using. If the water is very dirty, double the number of bleach drops to 16. The disinfected water should have a slight chlorine smell. If it doesn’t, add another dosage of bleach and let sit for 15 minutes more before using. Do not use scented, powdered or swimming pool bleach since these products may contain dangerous chemicals.

Option Three: Use commercial disinfection tablets, often found in sporting good stores, and follow package directions.

If you are without water for some time, here are some other sources of water in the house: melted ice cubes, your water heater, canned vegetables, water taken from the toilet tank (not the bowl) and then disinfected as described before.

Q. Who should I call if I have a problem with my tap water?

A. Contact the City of Ontario's Water Quality Hotline at (909) 395-2678.

Excerpts from "PlainTalk about Drinking Water", Dr. James M. Symons, 1997 American Water Works Association.