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In the nearly 100 year history of the City of San Diego Water Department, we have never sold a drop of water deemed unsafe by any local, state, or federal agency. That's a record we're proud of, and one we're determined to continue. Public Health GoalsReport on Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals (PDF: 166K) 
Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
Watershed Sanitary SurveyThe Watershed Sanitary Survey examines the potential sources of contaminants in the watersheds draining into the reservoirs, and includes recommendations for managing these effects. 2007 Annual Water Quality Report - Additional Tables
Source Water Protection GuidelinesThe Water Department Source Water Protection Guidelines for New Development Projects is a guide for development in and around water supply watersheds aimed at protecting the local source waters. Frequently Asked QuestionsFollowing is a series of our most frequently asked questions regarding water quality. If you have other questions, please E-mail us at water@sandiego.gov.
Where does our water come from?During a normal year about 10-20 percent of the City's water supply is made up of local rainfall and is captured in one of our reservoirs. The remaining 80-90 percent is imported via the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) from two separate sources. A 242 mile-long aqueduct brings Colorado River water from Lake Havasu to the southland. This water may have originated as snow melt on the mountain slopes of Utah, Wyoming or Colorado and traveled more than 1,000 miles before being diverted to Southern California. San Diego also receives water which originates in Northern California from the State Water Project. This water is captured in reservoirs north of Sacramento and released through natural rivers and streams into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The 444 mile-long California Aqueduct then carries the water from south of the Delta to State Water Project contractors throughout the state such as MWD. The MWD blends Colorado and State Project water for San Diego to achieve the highest quality for treatment and taste. The water is then transferred to the San Diego treatment plants at Miramar, Alvarado and Otay reservoirs, via pipelines operated by CWA. A small portion of our water comes to us as treated, import water, purchased from the Skinner Treatment Plant in Rancho California. 
Where is my water treated?Depending on where you live in San Diego, you get your water from one of three water treatment plants. South San Diego gets water from the Otay Treatment Plant, central San Diego's water comes from the Alvarado Treatment Plant located at Lake Murray, and north San Diego gets water from the Miramar Treatment Plant. Producing safe, healthy water is our number one priority. Increasingly stringent state and federal regulations, along with the City's rising population, makes our jobs more difficult. Working with a public advisory group, we've created the Strategic Plan for Water Supply, which ensures San Diegans will have reliable water treatment and distribution systems well into the next century. What kind of technology is used to test the water?The Water Department's Water Quality Laboratory uses the latest technology to ensure the highest test accuracy at the lowest possible cost. Our testing can determine minuscule quantities of contaminates in water and we are constantly studying ways to improve our testing capabilities. Does the City's water supply contain fluoride?A small amount of fluoride occurs naturally in the City's water supply due to erosion. In addition, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) began adding fluoride to its treated water in December 2007. The City imports up to 9 percent of its treated water from MWD. For more information, see our Fluoridation web page. Is lead a hazard in our water?No. We have tested water in homes that might have the greatest risk of lead in the water, and have found no hazardous levels of lead. Our water is not corrosive so it is not likely to dissolve lead from plumbing fixtures. Lead pipe is not used in any of the City's water utility systems. What is the Water Department doing to control Cryptosporidium in the water supply? Is there a concern for the general public or for people with compromised immune systems?Cryptosporidium is a potentially infectious microscopic organism which has been found in water sources in other parts of America There is a very low, if any, risk to the general public of contacting cryptosporidiosis from drinking water served by the City of San Diego Water Department. However, State health officials recommend that any person with a severely compromised immune system, especially those with AIDS, should consult their physician about taking measures to avoid the risk of infection from all potential sources. Persons in other groups with compromised immune systems, such as organ transplant or bone marrow recipients and chemotherapy patients, should also contact their physician. The City of San Diego routinely tests our source waters and our treated water for Cryptosporidium. We have not found any in the treated water sent to our customers. We are upgrading the treatment plants and optimizing our treatment processes to be sure we have the best removal process for all possible contaminants. How are water characteristics measured?Due to the development of increasingly more sensitive scientific instruments, it is possible to measure water characteristics in precise and minute quantities that previously went undetected. The Water Quality Report shows measurements in parts per million, which is equivalent to milligrams per liter, and parts per billion, which is the same as micrograms per liter.To put these measurements into perspective, consider that one part per million, in time, would be one second out of 11 1/2 days. One part per billion translates into just one second in nearly 33 years. Important Phone Numbers
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