Golden State Water Company - Cordova

Golden State Water appreciates Sacramento County residents for their exceptional conservation efforts and encourages everyone to continue using water responsibly to support California's drought recovery journey. After several unusually dry winters, all customers are urged to embrace water conservation as a California lifestyle.

On May 9, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order permanently prohibiting wasteful water practices. These include banning hosing sidewalks and driveways, requiring shut-off nozzles for car washing, prohibiting non-recirculating decorative fountains, preventing excess landscape runoff, restricting watering within 48 hours after rainfall, and banning irrigation of public median turf with potable water.

Golden State Water thanks customers for their ongoing conservation commitment. For more information about drought conditions and local water restrictions, please visit http://www.gswater.com/drought/ or call 1.800.999.4033.

1. Is my water safe to use? For most areas in the United States and Canada, yes. Nearly all public water supplies in the US meet EPA safety standards. However, individual results can vary by location.
2. What are water quality standards? Standards are typically numerical limits on contaminant concentrations. When a contaminant can't be easily measured, water suppliers must provide specific treatments like disinfection and filtration to ensure safety.
3. Do small water systems face more challenges? Yes. Smaller utilities often have limited financial resources to implement required improvements when needed.
4. Should I purchase bottled water? You don't need bottled water for health reasons if your municipal water meets all standards. Bottled water can cost up to 1,000 times more than tap water, though it may offer different taste preferences.
5. What is a Boil Water Advisory? This is issued by health officials when there's concern about possible contamination. Boiling water for at least 3 minutes (5 minutes at higher elevations) eliminates most harmful microorganisms.
6. Where does municipal water come from? Two main sources: surface water (lakes, reservoirs, rivers) and groundwater (wells drilled into aquifers). Most large cities use surface water, while smaller towns typically rely on groundwater.
7. What causes water pollution? The primary source is rainwater runoff that collects contaminants as it flows over agricultural areas, city streets, and industrial zones before entering water supplies.
8. Can I test my water at home? Basic test kits exist for hardness and some chemicals like chlorine and lead, but comprehensive analysis requires professional laboratory testing.
9. Why does my tap water taste or smell unusual? Common causes include: chlorine disinfection, hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), algae growth in reservoirs, or minerals from pipes. Most taste and odor issues don't indicate health risks.