Information the U.S. EPA would like you to know
Drinking water fluoridation Fluoride has been added to U.S. drinking water supplies since 1945. In December 2007, MWD joined a majority of the nation’s public water suppliers in adding fluoride to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. MWD was in compliance with all provisions of the state's fluoridation system requirements. IRWD’s local groundwater contains naturally occurring fluoride, but is not supplemented with added fluoride. Fluoride levels in drinking water are limited under California state regulations at a maximum dosage of 2 parts per million. There are many places to go for additional information about the fluoridation of drinking water: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chloramines Water imported from MWD and locally produced ground- water contains chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, as a drinking water disinfectant. Chloramines effectively kill bacteria and other microorganisms that may cause disease. Chloramines have no odor when used properly. People who use kidney dialysis machines may want to take special precautions and consult their physician for the appropriate type of water treatment. Customers who maintain fish ponds, tanks or aquariums should also make necessary adjustments in water quality treatment, as these disinfectants are toxic to fish. For further information or if you have any questions about chloramines please visit IRWD.com or call 949-453-5300. Total Coliform Rule This Water Quality Report reflects changes in drinking water regulatory requirements instituted during 2016. All water systems are required to comply with the state Total Coliform Rule. Effective April 1, 2016, all water systems are also required to comply with the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule. The state Revised Total Coliform Rule became effective July 1, 2021. The federal and state rules protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system by monitoring for the presence of microbials (i.e., total coliform and E. coli bacteria). U.S. EPA anticipates greater public health protection as the new rule requires water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and resolve potential issues. Water systems that exceed a specified frequency of total coliform occurrences are required to conduct an assessment to determine if any sanitary defects exist. If found, these must be corrected by the water system. IRWD tested the distribution system water quality for E. coli bacteria in 2023 and did not detect it. Arsenic advisory While your drinking water meets the federal and state standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. The arsenic standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The U.S. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.
800-232-4636 • cdc.gov/fluoridation State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water
waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/ certlic/drinkingwater/Fluoridation.html American Water Works Association: awwa.org For more information about MWD’s fluoridation program, please contact Edgar G. Dymally at 213-217-5709 or at edymally @ mwdh2o.com. Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidium is a microscopic organism that, when ingested, can cause diarrhea, fever, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The organism comes from animal and/or human waste and may be in surface water. MWD and IRWD tested the source waters and treated surface waters for Cryptosporidium in 2023 and did not detect it. If detected in any drinking water samples, Cryptosporidium is eliminated by an effective treatment combination including sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. The U.S. EPA and the federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contami- nants are available from the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
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