City of Redwood City

Your Municipal Water: Understanding Its Source and Quality

In Redwood City, water is considered our most valuable natural resource. The City of Redwood City Water Utilities Division is committed to providing our community with the highest quality municipal water possible. We believe residents and businesses should understand how our water quality compares to regulatory standards set by the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Throughout the year, our municipal water undergoes continuous monitoring by both Redwood City officials and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which supplies our water. Testing occurs at both source locations and in the treated water that reaches homes and businesses. We're proud to report that Redwood City's water consistently meets or exceeds all federal and state standards for maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and treatment requirements.

This Water Quality Annual Report provides important information about these and other critical water issues to help you make informed decisions about water usage for you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will installing a home water treatment system provide cleaner water?
Not necessarily. Many point-of-use water treatment devices can actually increase sodium concentrations in your water. If you choose to install a system, carefully follow operational, maintenance and replacement guidelines to ensure the device performs as advertised. Be aware that it's illegal for anyone selling or installing water treatment devices to make false or misleading claims about tap water contamination issues.

Is bottled water superior to tap water?
Not always. Depending on the source, bottled water often undergoes less frequent testing for regulated contaminants than municipal tap water as required by state and federal regulations. In Florida, bottled water falls under Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulation. If you regularly consume a specific bottled water brand, we recommend contacting the company to request information about their water quality testing frequency and a complete list of tested contaminants with detected levels.

Water and Sewer Lateral Responsibilities
Redwood City occasionally receives inquiries about responsibility boundaries for water service lateral and sewer service lateral repairs. Service laterals are the pipes running through your property that connect municipal water and sewer services to your home's plumbing. Just as you own and maintain your landscaping, driveway, and property walls, you also own and are responsible for maintaining certain portions of these service laterals.

Your responsibility for your water service line begins at its connection point to the City-owned water meter (your water service connection). For sewer service, your responsibility begins at the connection point to the City's sewer main in the street (your sewer service connection). Any leaks, blockages or breaks on your side of these connection points are your responsibility, including all repair costs. The City is responsible for repairs needed on the municipal side of these connection points.