Our water comes from the Colorado River, Northern California and local wells - the mix varies throughout the year. The well water that IRWD supplies must be pumped up from 400 to 2000 feet below Orange County. That pumping process can sometimes result in aeration, or the mixing of air with water. Aeration creates small bubbles in the water that are harmless, but may give the water a cloudy appearance.

This mixing of air into the water is also very common when the Metropolitan Water District aqueducts are running very full during the summer months.

Suggestion: If you feel your water looks cloudy, pour some water into a clear glass and let it sit for a minute. As the air bubbles leave the water, the cloudiness will generally disappear.  If the cloudiness does not clear, call IRWD at (949) 453-5300.

Unlike many areas of Orange County, IRWD is not dependent upon only one source of water. Approximately 65 percent of our total domestic water supply is local groundwater pumped from wells within the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The remaining 35 percent of our water supply is imported water which must be purchased from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Note: some areas of the District such as Lake Forest and Newport Coast receive mostly MWD water all year-round.

MWD imports water from the Colorado River via the Colorado River Aqueduct and from Northern California via the California Aqueduct, also known as the State Water Project. IRWD generally uses water from the Colorado River, Northern California and local wells and the mix varies throughout the year.

Imported water is treated at MWD's Diemer Filtration Plant in Yorba Linda using chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia. IRWD also uses chloramines to treat your well water as it enters the distribution system. Generally, using this combination results in less chlorine taste and odor.

Because your water sources may vary or be made up of a blending of these various types of water, you may notice a difference in the taste or hardness (mineral content) of the water at different times of year. None of these factors affect the safety of your water.

Having multiple sources of water is beneficial for IRWD customers. Local groundwater is both high in quality and lower in cost than imported water which must travel hundreds of miles through aqueduct systems. Having more than one source also improves the overall reliability of our water supply.

Absolutely not! Bottled water and tap water are regulated by different agencies. Tap water actually has more stringent reporting requirements, such as providing customers with a printed water quality report each year. Bottled water suppliers are not required to provide such data, but some may do so on request. The water provided to you by IRWD is clean, pure and ready to drink at a fraction of the cost of bottled water.

Before choosing an alternative to tap water, compare data contained in the IRWD Annual Water Quality Report with water quality data from the bottled water or filtration device you are considering. The decision to use bottled water or a filtration system should be based on taste or other aesthetic considerations, not on fear of health risks.

The answer to that question is "yes and no" because the degree of hardness varies depending upon the time of year and your location within the District. 

Water hardness refers to the mineral content in the water and is commonly expressed in "grains" of hardness. Generally water with 10 grains or more is considered "hard." Water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California averages 12 grains of hardness, while IRWD's well water averages only 5.8 grains of hardness. Water from the former Santiago County Water District local sources average 320 ppm, or approximately 17 grains.

While the hardness of the water does not affect its safety, the higher mineral content can cause white spots on glasses in the dishwasher. IRWD generally uses water from the Colorado River, Northern California and local wells. Water use is alternated throughout the year. Because water is blended from a variety of sources, you may notice spotting on glassware more during the winter. IRWD customers who live in Lake Forest and Newport Coast receive mostly all imported water year-round and therefore have more consistently hard water.

It is best to read the owner's manual for your dishwasher and follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding settings for hard water. Some other tips that may help reduce spotting include using hotter water, varying the brand and type of rinse agent and detergent, and adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the dishwasher.

While IRWD does not recommend the use of water filtration or conditioning systems, we realize that some customers do not care for the "hard" (high mineral content) water which many areas of Southern California receive from the Colorado River. If you opt for a water softener for your home, there are a few things to be aware of.

IRWD discourages self-regenerating water softeners - the kind that require rock salt, potassium or other material to be added periodically by the owner. The reason is simple: IRWD recycles its wastewater and the salty brine discharged by self-regenerating water softeners is not removed during the reclamation process. The more self-regenerating water softeners used in our service area, the saltier our recycled water becomes. Recycled water is used to irrigate parks, school yards and golf courses, among other things, and the plants cannot tolerate the high salt content.

There is an environmentally friendly option. If you desire soft water in your home, we encourage you to subscribe to a water softener service that picks up and exchanges the cylinder so the salt does not go down the drain. You'll find several water softening services listed in the Yellow Pages. We do not make recommendations on softening services.

Additionally, hooking up a water softener only to the hot water lines will save the customer money.

Fluoride has been added to United States drinking water supplies since 1945. Of the 50 largest cities in the country, 43 add fluoride to their drinking water. In late 1995, AB 733 was signed into law, requiring the California Department of Public Health to adopt regulations that require the fluoridation of the water of any public water system with at least 10,000 service connections when the state provided funding.While this funding was never made available to IRWD, the regional wholesale water supplier Metropolitan Water District joined a majority of the nation’s public water suppliers in adding fluoride to drinking water in order to prevent tooth decay in December 2007. In line with recommendations from the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MWD adjusted the natural fluoride level in imported treated water from the Colorado River and State Project water to the optimal range for dental health of 0.7 to 1.3 parts per million.

While there is naturally occurring fluoride in our water, IRWD does not add fluoride to its drinking water supplies. The fluoride content in our local groundwater averages 0.46 parts per million, while the level in water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California averages 0.19 parts per million.

Since IRWD’s water supply is made up 35-50% water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, our water has fluoride levels averaging 0.6 mpl. And, since IRWD’s local water supply already contain a level of fluoride close to the recommended amount, IRWD does not plan to add additional fluoride to our water.

If you are concerned about your children's requirement for fluoride, we suggest you provide your dentist or pediatrician with the fluoride content figures above so a supplement can be prescribed if your health care professional feels it is warranted.

Questions about MWD’s fluoridation policy may be directed to Edgar Dymally at (213) 217-5709.

Will filters remove fluoride? Regular filters and boiling will not remove fluoride, but fluoride can be removed using a reverse osmosis system.

The average sodium level in MWD imported water is 82 parts per million. The average level in groundwater is 57 parts per million in Irvine and 116 parts per million in Lake Forest Wells. Check annual water quality report to validate these amounts. 

Neither the state nor federal government has set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for sodium. Customers who have concerns about sodium intake should discuss these figures with their physician and follow his or her recommendation.

Is the smell coming from all taps or just one?

If it's coming from just one tap, the problem is generally the drain and not the water. The odor comes from material such a hair or food particles decomposing in the drain area. To get rid of the odor, pour about a half cup of liquid bleach into the drain. To prevent odors from returning, routinely flush drains with a small amount of bleach once a month or so.

If the smell is coming from all taps, take a glass of water from a sink into another room without water, such as your living room. Is the odor still present? If not, the problem is with the drains. Use the same suggestion outlined above for all affected drains.

Is the problem tap one that is seldom used (such as a guest bathroom)? Or, if the whole house is involved, did you recently return from vacation?

Often when a sink or shower is not used for a period of time, the material in the drain remains odorless until water is first turned on. When water hits the built-up material, odor is generated. Use the same bleach flushing suggestion as above.

Is the odor coming from both hot and cold water?

If it's coming from just the hot water, the your water heater may need flushing. Annual flushing of the hot water heater should keep the problem from returning. Hot water heater odors can also result from having the temperature set too low. To prevent bacterial growth, hot water heaters should not be set below 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Care should be taken in homes with young children, elderly or disabled residents to prevent accidental scalding.

If you continue to experience odor problems with your water, please call our Customer Service department at (949) 435-5300.

IRWD uses chloramine in its drinking water to maintain a disinfection residual in the distribution system.  Chloramine is safe for all pets except fish. Water that contains chloraminesmay be treated a number of ways, including commercial products found in pet supply stores. Customers should follow the instructions on the package. If you have any questions, consult the manufactor's web page, because these products contain varying amounts and types of reactive agent.

Chromium is an element found in nature.  It is commonly used in manufacturing activities such as steel hardening, aerospace manufacturing, making of paint pigments, and electroplating.  When chromium is used in industrial processes, it’s often converted to chromium 6.

Chromium may be present in water as chromium 3 and chromium 6.  Chromium 3 is an essential nutrient at trace concentrations.  Chromium 6 can be present in many forms, some of which are carcinogenic when inhaled at high concentrations.  Tests conducted on IRWD’s water have identified chromium 6 in extremely low concentrations in four of its 18 drinking water wells.

Current regulatory standards assure safe levels of total chromium—the combination of chromium III and chromium VI—in drinking water to protect against any possible inhalation hazard.  In fact, as an added measure of safety, the state has established a very stringent  health protective level for chromium in drinking water even before all of the necessary health studies have been completed to set a formal regulation.

Yes. IRWD water meets all state and federal drinking water standards.

According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Japan's nuclear emergency presents no danger to California. Drinking water samples collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since the Japanese nuclear incident have shown radioactive materials at levels well below public-health concern. The EPA RadNet Laboratory data on drinking water samples is available on their website. You can also read more about radiation monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The California Department of Public Health is working closely with our state and federal partners, including NRC, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, FEMA Region IX, and the California Emergency Management Agency and maintains air monitoring stations throughout California.  California has a plan of response for radiological emergencies if one were to arise and is posting regular radiation monitoring reports. For more information, please visit the California Department of Public Health website.