Providing customers with the highest quality of water is a top priority. To accomplish this, the District employs State-certified water treatment operators who continuously monitor and test our water. Water samples are collected and analyzed daily from various locations around the District. Both District staff or by independent State-certified laboratories conduct this testing.
The latest Consumer Confidence - Water Quality Report was released in March 2024. Learn more about this annual report below. View it here.
Potable water is sourced from wells that vary from 350 feet to 1,750 feet deep. Groundwater is pumped from the ground and filtered through a pressurized system of sand, gravel and anthracite to remove iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide. Chemicals are introduced before and after filtration to oxidize the iron and clean the water. This treatment enables the District water to meet and exceed Federal and State drinking water standards. Daily testing checks for residual chlorine, turbidity (cloudiness), color, odor, PH, iron and manganese. Extensive monthly, quarterly and annual tests are performed for the many other substances regulated by state and federal agencies.
Water provided by the District meets or exceeds the strict requirements of both the State Water Resources Control Board and the Federal Drinking Water Standards.
Consumer Confidence Report
The District is committed to transparency and providing comprehensive information about its water and operations to the community. To help with this commitment, the District produces an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that describes where water comes from, what it contains and how it compares with State and Federal Drinking Water Standards. The report contains the actual results of hundreds of water quality tests conducted throughout the year as well as other information.
- Consumer Confidence Report 2023
- Consumer Confidence Report 2022
- Consumer Confidence Report 2021
- Consumer Confidence Report 2020
Backflow Prevention
Water flows to taps through pressurized pipes. Normally it flows only in one direction but in certain circumstances, it can backflow, or travel in the opposite direction. When backflow occurs, the flow of water or other substances from a customer's plumbing goes into the District's water distribution system. It is a hazardous situation that can threaten the safety of the water supply. Backflow prevention devices are required on properties where there is a potential for this to occur. Also, all sites that use recycled water for irrigation must have an approved backflow device installed. Backflow prevention devices must be tested annually. To protect the water supply, the District is constantly on the lookout for backflow situations.
Flushing Program
Water mains are underground pipelines that distribute water to various users including residences, businesses and fire hydrants. Although the water entering the mains meets all state and federal standards, the pipelines must be regularly maintained to avoid deterioration of water quality. Water main flushing is the process of cleaning or “scouring” the inside of the pipes by sending a high-velocity flow of water through the system. This is conducted by opening hydrants and releasing water at the speed of up to 5 feet per second to remove deposits built up inside the mains.
Flushing is a crucial preventative measure that helps to maintain the capacity of the pipe and to protect water quality by removing minerals and sediment deposits from inside the mains. The District regularly flushes its system and notifies its customers of the flushing schedule.
- Scouring the inside of pipes with a high-velocity flow of water that removes sediment buildup and improves water quality.
- Valves, hydrants and water mains can be inspected.
- The District stays in compliance with requirements set by the California Department of State Water Resources Control Board.
Mains are cleaned by systematically flushing the pipelines at high velocity (5 feet per second) for a few minutes by opening and closing fire hydrants.
Flushing typically occurs in the spring. Customers are notified in advance.
Lead in Drinking Water
Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can be found in air, soil, dust, food and water. However, lead is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. To minimize exposure to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a standard and action level for drinking water. Currently, the Action Level for lead is 15 micrograms per liter (or parts per billion). The District tests for lead quarterly in source water pumped from wells and treated water as it leaves the treatment plants and our samples are always absent of lead. Since 1993, the District has regularly tested the water at a selected number of higher-risk homes that were constructed using copper pipes with lead solder prior to the 1986 federal ban on lead solder. Monitoring is conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements and guidance.
All water systems are required to conduct an initial lead service line inventory by October 16th, 2024. The Scotts Valley Water District has completed this initial lead service line inventory required by the US EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. The Scotts Valley Water District used a machine learning approach to developing this initial inventory, which was approved by the State Water Resource Control Board Division of Drinking Water. After investigating all applicable sources of information, the Scotts Valley Water District determined that it does not have lead service lines or galvanized requiring replacement service lines. Please see the Scotts Valley Water District No Lead Statement here.
