San Lorenzo Valley Water District

Understanding Your Water Quality
To ensure tap water safety, both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and California State Water Resources Control Board establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. These same standards apply to bottled water producers to maintain consistent public health protection.

It's normal for water—including bottled varieties—to contain small amounts of certain contaminants. However, their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more detailed information about contaminants and potential health effects, residents can contact the USEPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or visit www.EPA.gov/safewater.

Common Water Contaminant Sources:

• Microbial Contaminants: viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: naturally-occurring salts and metals or those resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: agricultural operations, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems

California Water Standards and Monitoring
California drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCLs) fall into two categories: Primary Standards for public health protection and Secondary Standards for aesthetic qualities like taste and odor.

San Lorenzo Valley Water District maintains a comprehensive monitoring program that regularly tests all water sources according to State and Federal guidelines. If monitoring lapses occur or contaminant levels exceed Primary Standards, the District must notify customers of potential health implications by law.

The District routinely monitors for bacteria, turbidity, inorganic chemicals, metals, minerals, volatile organic compounds, disinfection byproducts, and radiation. We're pleased to report that water quality met or exceeded all State and Federal health protection criteria. For additional water quality information, please contact us at (831) 338-2153.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Highland requiring customers to pressure test their sewers while other municipalities aren't?
   Highland has been addressing the I&I (Infiltration & Inflow) challenge longer than any other local sewer system. Our experience demonstrates that no municipal sewer system in the Greater Johnstown area has successfully reduced flows to the PaDEP mandated limit (625 GPD/EDU) without requiring homeowners to thoroughly pressure test their entire buried pipeline system.
2. Can residents fish in Highland's reservoirs?
   Highland's secondary and remote Lloydell Reservoir (also known as Beaverdale Reservoir or 5-Mile Reservoir) is NOT open to the public. However, our main Beaverdam Reservoir along Route 869 in Summerhill Township IS OPEN for limited public access through a cooperative management agreement with the PA Fish and Boat Commission.