Water Quality
SCWD is committed to maintaining a high level of water quality and safety for valley customers. SCWD's water sources are composed of 13 groundwater wells and purchased treated surface water from the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA). Our water quality technicians collect water samples continuously on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually basis to analyze for potential contaminants such as bacteria, inorganics, organics, metals, disinfection byproducts and radioactive materials, as well as inspect the system-wide disinfectant residuals, general physical characteristics of the water and aesthetic parameters including taste, odor and color.
SCWD is always working to protect and improve our water resources and use innovative approaches for the management of water operations and water resources. We strive to effectively integrate drinking water source protection, treatment and distribution in order to protect public health and the environment. SCWD mails a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to every customer each year. This report details the quality of your drinking water and shows the minimum,maximum and typical levels of contaminants and how our water meets or exceeds federal and state drinking water standards. |
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The Annual Water Quality report is provided by the Castaic Lake Water Agency and local water purveyors. The goal is to provide customers the most up-to-date information about water. Each report contains a summary of thousands of water quality tests performed in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The Santa Clarita Valley 2011 Water Quality Report
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The Santa Clarita Valley 2010 Water Quality Report
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Common Water Quality Complaints
Hardness
Some parts of the valley may experience hard water, which results from high levels of naturally occurring minerals, primarily calcium. Calcium is not harmful to your health but when it precipitates out of solution it may leave a white residue on glasses, dishes, plumbing fixtures, etc. The level of hardness varies throughout our system depending on the mix of groundwater and surface water purchased from CLWA. In 2008, our system had an average hardness of 407 ppm (parts per million) or 23.8 grains.
Please note that the Los Angeles County Sanitation District has banned automatic or self regenerating water softeners in the Santa Clarita Valley. Visit www.lacsd.org/chloride for information on alternative water softening methods.
Color
Occasionally you may notice that water from your faucet has a white color. This is nothing more than dissolved air in the water. When you turn on your tap, pressure is released and the air comes out of solution.
Smell
At times, you may notice a slight chlorine-like smell in your water. By regulation, we put chlorine in the water and must maintain a residual in the system for bacteriological control. We test the water weekly at over 27 sample locations and have never exceeded the regulatory limit of 4.0 ppm. Chlorine levels vary throughout the water system and are affected by the current demand and system maintenance such as turning over tanks or flushing lines. Please keep in mind that everyone has a different sensitivity to chlorine smell.
Recycled Water
In conjunction with Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) and other local water retailers, SCWD contributed to the development of the valley's 2005 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), which projects the valley's water demand through the year 2030 and identifies the sources of water necessary to meet that demand, including recycled water.
Recycled water is wastewater that has been treated to remove impurities and used for controlled irrigation uses rather than being discharged into the Santa Clara River. Expanded use of recycled water allows us to reuse this valuable resource and at the same time frees up imported water and groundwater water supplies to meet the potable (drinkable) water demands in the valley.
The 2003 Recycled Water Master Plan (RWMP) outlines a twelve-phase plan that supplies 17,400 acre-feet a year of recycled water for the CLWA service area. Phase I of the recycled water system delivers up to 500 acre-feet of recycled water each year to landscaping along the Old Road south of Magic Mountain Parkway and to The Players Club golf course in the Westridge community.
Now in its second phase, the recycled water program will take water from the Saugus Water Reclamation Plant and route it through an existing pipeline north under the Santa Clara River in the vicinity of Bouquet Creek. It is estimated that this phase of the recycled water program will serve another 500 acre-feet of recycled water a year.
SCWD remains committed to the vision set forth in both the RWMP and the UWMP. It is our goal to ensure that customers continue to have a reliable source of water for the future
Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program
In cooperation with the California Department of Health Services, a major goal of SCWD is to ensure the distribution of a safe and potable water supply to all domestic users. In order to achieve this goal, a Cross-Connection Control Program (CCCP) was developed. Our CCCP was adopted pursuant to the requirements set forth in the State of California Administrative Code Title 17, Sections 7583 through 7605 .
The purpose of the CCCP is to protect the public water supply against actual or potential cross-connection by isolating the premise where contamination may occur because of some undiscovered or unauthorized cross-connection on the premises and also to prevent the making of cross-connections in the future.
All service connections, except residential domestic services, require a backflow prevention assembly. If a residential property served by SCWD has a booster pump or an auxiliary water supply, such as a private well, a backflow prevention assembly is required. The following water service lines require a backflow prevention assembly:
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Commercial, Institutional, Industrial Water Service Lines
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Dedicated Irrigation Meters
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Fire Services
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Multi-Residential Complexes
All backflow prevention assemblies are installed, owned and maintained by the property owner. Backflow prevention devices must be tested immediately after installation, relocation or repair and at least annually thereafter.
A SCWD backflow prevention assembly field testing and maintenance report form shall be completed each time a device is tested, relocated, or repaired. Any device that is not functioning as required shall be serviced, overhauled, or replaced whenever it is found to be defective. Only those persons certified by Los Angeles County Department of Health Services can test and certify that a device is working properly.
SCWD will notify each affected water user when it is time for the testing of their backflow prevention device. This written notice shall give the water user 30 days to have the device tested and supply the water user with the necessary backflow prevention device field testing and maintenance report form to be completed and submitted to SCWD.
Phone: 661-259-2737
Attn: Cross-Connection Control Specialist
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 903
Santa Clarita, CA 91380-9003
Chlorine and Chloramines 
Important Information on Conversion to Chloramines!
CLWA, Santa Clarita Water Division, Los Angeles County Waterworks District #36, Newhall County Water District and Valencia Water Company are working together to improve the quality of your water. On April 15, 2005, your water’s disinfection treatment changed from chlorine to chloramines. This change ensures that higher water quality standards set by the EPA are met.
