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Contaminant Information
The sources of drinking water (both
tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes,
streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water
travels over the surface of the land or through the
ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and,
in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up
substances resulting from the presence of animals or
from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in
source water include:
Microbial contaminants, such as
viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage
treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural
livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as
salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring
or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial
or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides,
which may come from a variety of sources such as
agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and
residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants,
including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals,
which are by-products of industrial processes and
petroleum production, and can also come from gas
stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic
systems.
Radioactive contaminants that
can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and
gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water
is safe to drink, the USEPA and the California
Department of Health Services (DHS) prescribes
regulations which limit the amount of certain
contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
Department regulations also establish limits for
contaminants in bottled water which must provide the
same protection for public health.
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