Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about water:

Is my water safe to drink?
Yes. Water supplied by Irvine Ranch Water District meets the stringent requirements set by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Health Services. Our Water Quality staff conducts more than a quarter of a million tests on water samples each year, monitoring for nearly 200 substances. Your water meets or is of better quality than all federal and state standards. For complete information on your water, click on "Domestic Water Quality Report." For residents of the former Santiago County Water District, click here for your Annual Water Quality Report. Customers of the Orange Park Acres Mutual Water Company may access their Annual Water Quality report here.

What causes white spots on glassware or silverware?
"Hard" water, which contains more minerals than "soft" water, can cause spots on glasses or silverware. Locally, water from imported sources is much harder than groundwater. It is best to read the owner's manual for your dishwasher and follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding hard water. Some other tips that may help reduce spotting include using hotter water, varying the brand and type of rinse agent and detergent, and adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the dishwasher.

My water sometimes tastes different from season to season. Why?
Because your water is a blend of local groundwater and water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California, you may notice a difference in taste or hardness at different times of year. None of these factors affect the safety of your water.

How can I improve the taste of my drinking water?
Keep a pitcher of chilled tap water in the refrigerator. Not only will this improve the taste, it will help conserve water because you won't need to let the tap run until the water gets cold.

Do I need to be concerned about Giardia or Cryptosporidium?
Giardia and Cryptosporidium are micro-organisms which can cause gastrointestinal illnesses. The chance of these diseases being found in your drinking water is very small. Groundwater supplies that operate with proper well protection like IRWD's are not susceptible to contamination by these organisms.

Surface water purchased by IRWD from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) undergoes multiple stages of treatment including filtration, which is critical for the removal of these organisms. There is very low risk, if any, to the general public of contracting either disease from drinking water served by the Irvine Ranch Water District. State health officials, however, recommend that persons with severely compromised immune systems, especially those with AIDS, should consult their physician about preventing infection from all potential sources. If they want to further reduce their potential risk, they may want to take special precautions including boiling their water for one minute.

What happens if I use a self-regenerating water softener?
Self-regenerative water softeners -- the type that use rock salt or potassium -- can deposit up to 600 pounds of brine into the sewer each year. That's a problem because IRWD recycles and reuses wastewater and the additional salts cannot be removed during the reclamation process. Customers may choose the environmentally friendly option of contracting with a company to provide water softening services in which the spent cartridges are removed for disposal instead of being discharged into the sewer system. This is called an exchange tank system. Important information regarding water softeners.

Was you question answered? If not, try our interactive guide to water quality.