According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), home treatment units are rarely necessary for health reasons. Most often, water treatment units are used to remove substances that affect the aesthetic qualities of the water. If you do choose to install a home treatment unit, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, … Read more

Clean your coffee maker with vinegar and water as directed by the manufacturer.

Odor Issues The most common cause of odor in hot water is the water heater. If your cold water smells fine, check your water heater to confirm that the temperature setting is correct. Water heaters also need to be maintained (see manufacturer’s instructions). Please contact us if the odor persists or if it is present in both … Read more

Color in water is usually caused by naturally occurring organic matter, minerals, or mineral build-up in the pipes. At Cal Water, we flush our water system regularly to clean mineral build-up and other sediment from the pipes. If you receive discolored water, you should let your faucets run until the water is clear. Such substances … Read more

Tap water providers and bottled water providers must meet the same water quality standards. In fact, tap water providers are required to conduct more frequent water quality testing and reporting than bottled water providers. Some consumers prefer the taste of bottled water, and some choose bottled water because they have special health needs. But tap … Read more

Disinfectants are required because they prevent the spread of germs that cause diseases. Years ago, before disinfectants were used for drinking water, diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery were common. Drinking water disinfection has vastly improved the quality and safety of drinking water.

Dirt or sand can occur naturally in groundwater or as a result of a water line repair. We try to reduce the instances of dirt or sand in the water through regular flushing, which improves water quality by increasing the circulation of water in the pipes and removing most of the sediment from the water.

At Cal Water, we conduct periodic flushing as part of our ongoing water quality and water system maintenance program. By opening certain fire hydrants under controlled conditions, we remove minerals and sediment that build up in water lines over time. This improves water quality and increases the amount of water that can flow through the … Read more

Water is considered soft if total hardness is less than 75 ppm, moderately hard at 75 to 150 ppm, hard at 150 to 300 ppm, and very hard at 300 ppm or higher. To convert the hardness of your water from parts per million to grains per gallon, simply divide by 17.1 Water’s hardness varies … Read more

Trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, and chlorodibromomethane) are commonly found in drinking water that has been chlorinated or chloraminated. Trihalomethanes (THMs) form when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water. THMs are found mainly in water that originally came from surface sources, such as rivers and lakes. THM levels are typically low in groundwater (produced … Read more