Golden State Water Company - West Orange

Golden State Water commends California residents for their exceptional conservation efforts and encourages the entire community to continue using water responsibly to maintain the state's drought recovery progress. Following a particularly dry winter, all customers must adopt water-wise practices as part of California's lifestyle approach to conservation.

On May 9, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order permanently prohibiting wasteful water practices. These include banning hosing of sidewalks and driveways, requiring shut-off nozzles for car washing, prohibiting decorative fountains without recirculation systems, preventing landscape watering that causes runoff or occurs within 48 hours of rainfall, and banning irrigation of public median turf with potable water.

Golden State Water appreciates customers' ongoing conservation initiatives. For additional drought information and specific water waste restrictions in your area, please visit http://www.gswater.com/drought/ or call 1-800-999-4033.

Is my water safe?

Last year, as in previous years, your tap water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state health requirements. The City of Pella Water Department proudly reports that our system has not violated any Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) or other water quality standards.

Where does my water come from?

The majority of our water comes from four shallow wells and a Ranney Collector well in the Des Moines River Valley. Pella also sources water from the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer (Jordan Sandstone), which has natural protection against contaminants due to its depth and geological characteristics.

Source Water Assessment

Our water supply draws partially from the Alluvial aquifer, which was determined to be somewhat vulnerable to contamination due to its characteristics and minimal surface protection. Alluvial wells may be susceptible to contaminants like leaking storage tanks, spills, and excess fertilizer application.

The Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer portion has low contamination susceptibility because of natural protection from the overlying materials. A detailed assessment of your source water was completed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is available from the City of Pella at 641-628-2464.

Why are there contaminants in my municipal water?

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's safe drinking water hotline at 800-426-4791.

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up substances from animal or human activities. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) either naturally occurring or resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharges, farming, or mining
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

EPA regulations limit contaminants in public water systems to ensure drinking water safety. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide the same public health protection.

Important Health Information

Nitrate levels above 10 ppm pose a health risk for infants under six months, potentially causing blue baby syndrome. If you're caring for an infant, consult your healthcare provider about water safety.

How can I get involved?

Decisions about the water system are made at City Council meetings held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex. All meetings are open to the public.