Alameda County Water District

A NOTE ABOUT MUNICIPAL WATER

All municipal water, including bottled water, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of certain contaminants. These substances enter water as it flows over land surfaces or percolates through soil, dissolving naturally occurring elements or picking up materials from animal or human activities. While the presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk, it's important to understand your water source.

Municipal water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. To protect public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and California law set comparable standards for bottled water.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the U.S. EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

INFORMATION FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Some individuals may be more susceptible to contaminants than the general population. This includes people undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, elderly residents, and infants. These populations should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding their municipal water. Guidelines for reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Municipal Water Hotline.

COMPREHENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING

ACWD implements rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance with all state and federal standards. This comprehensive program tests for various potential contaminants in source water (before treatment), including:

• Microbials from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic substances like salts and metals, both naturally occurring and from urban runoff, industrial discharge, or agricultural activities
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive elements that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

Highly trained analysts and certified operators in our state-certified laboratory conduct these tests under a strict Quality Assurance/Quality Control program. ACWD staff collect samples daily from water sources, treatment facilities, and the distribution system to maintain high quality municipal water for our customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Projects

If you're experiencing noise and dust from construction near your property, report public works issues to the Public Works Construction Manager at (714) 536-5431. For construction on private property, contact the Building and Safety Department at (714) 536-5241.

Tree Removal & Replacement

Requests for city tree removal may be approved when:

1. The tree is dead, diseased, or beyond treatment
2. The tree is causing damage to public or private property that cannot be remedied without removal
3. The tree poses risks to public improvements or private property, and protection measures like root pruning would destabilize the tree or fail to prevent future damage
4. The tree presents a public hazard requiring removal for community health, safety and welfare

Removals may also be considered when property owners demonstrate a tree in the right-of-way has damaged a private sewer line that cannot be repaired without removing the tree. For questions about the City's tree program, contact the Park, Tree and Landscape Section at (714) 536-5480.

Sewer Lateral Program

Effective January 3, 2008, the City established a policy regarding sewer lateral maintenance. The City maintains responsibility for portions of sewer laterals from the main through the public right-of-way to the property line. Property owners remain responsible for maintaining sections on private property.

Procedure:

1. Property owners experiencing sewer lateral issues should call Public Works Utilities Division (714-536-5921)
2. The Utilities Division will advise that the sewer lateral must be cleaned and videoed by a certified contractor, with initial costs covered by the property owner
3. Utilities staff will review the video to determine if repairs are needed and whether they fall within City jurisdiction
4. Repair options include slip lining the sewer while preserving street trees (homeowner covers private property costs) or, if tree removal is necessary, the City will handle repairs for areas under their responsibility and reimburse video costs

Note: The first step for a blocked sewer line should always be contacting a certified plumber. Frequent cleaning needs may indicate a broken line or root intrusion.

Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter Repair

For damaged sidewalks, temporary asphalt patches may be applied. The City currently handles permanent concrete repairs through programmed maintenance as budgeted by City Council. For repair inquiries, contact the City Corporation Yard at (714) 960-8861.

For streets experiencing tree damage to infrastructure, the City offers a Tree Removal Petition process requiring approval from 75% of property owners. Streets are prioritized based on petition date and sidewalk conditions, with repairs subject to funding availability.

Standing Water

The City doesn't currently maintain a program for individual curb and gutter repairs beyond the programmed repairs described in the tree removal process. Homeowners may hire licensed contractors for repairs at their own expense.

Street Sweeping

Street sweeping and parking enforcement occurs twice monthly according to posted schedules. While a 4-hour window is posted, on-street parking is permitted after the sweeper passes. Regular sweeping helps prevent debris and standing water accumulation in streets and storm drains.