Sweetwater Authority

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) establish the regulations for California's municipal water supply. These agencies develop standards based on current scientific understanding of what constitutes safe drinking water.

Last year, water provided by Sweetwater Authority (Authority) met virtually all USEPA and State Board health standards. This report details how the Authority vigilantly protects and treats your water supply, providing a comprehensive listing of constituents found in your water compared against maximum safety levels established by the USEPA and State Board.

For questions about Authority operations or this report, please visit www.sweetwater.org or contact Lab Supervisor Mark Hatcher at 619-409-6813, or Chemist Laura You at 619-409-6826. This report also includes information about water sources and protection measures, plus contact information for getting more involved in water protection efforts.

ABOUT SWEETWATER AUTHORITY

Sweetwater Authority is a publicly-owned water agency with policies established by a seven-member Governing Board. Five directors are elected by South Bay Irrigation District residents, while two are appointed by National City's Mayor with City Council confirmation. The Authority provides reliable drinking water to approximately 190,000 residents in National City, Bonita, and western Chula Vista, covering over 20,480 acres in San Diego County's South Bay region.

ABOUT YOUR WATER

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the USEPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit www.epa.gov/groundwater-and-drinking-water.

Note to vulnerable populations: Some individuals may be more susceptible to contaminants than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders, some elderly, and infants can face higher infection risks. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about water consumption. For USEPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants, contact the USEPA 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 moves across land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Before treatment, raw water may contain:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, either naturally-occurring or resulting from urban runoff, industrial wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from various sources including agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally-occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining

For more information about contaminants and health effects, call the USEPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. Additional details available at www.sweetwater.org or www.mwdh2o.com.

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