Town of Discovery Bay

Quality First: We're proud to present our annual water quality report once again. As in previous years, our utility remains dedicated to delivering the highest quality municipal water possible. We continuously work to meet new regulatory requirements, protect our water sources, promote conservation, and engage with community education programs while meeting the needs of all our customers. Thank you for letting us serve you – we value your input on the information in this report.

Where Does Our Water Come From?
The Town of Discovery Bay CSD obtains water from six groundwater wells throughout the community. This water flows through two treatment facilities specifically designed to remove iron and manganese from our groundwater. Our wells reach an average depth of approximately 400 feet.

Potential Substances in Water
Sources of tap water (including bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

To ensure safety, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State Water Resources Control Board establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA regulations and California law set similar standards for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection.

All water, including bottled varieties, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals, either naturally occurring or from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: From agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining activities

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

The CDC provides valuable guidance on household water treatment and safe storage practices. Their resources help residents understand potential health risks associated with tap water contaminants and offer practical solutions for improving water quality at home.

Common questions addressed by the CDC include:

1. How often should I test my home's water quality?
2. What health risks are associated with common water contaminants?
3. How can I treat water during emergencies or boil water advisories?
4. What special precautions should immunocompromised individuals take?
5. How do I interpret water quality reports from my utility company?

The CDC also offers guidance on selecting appropriate home water treatment systems based on specific contaminant concerns.