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M5.4 Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) and Water Quality

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) provides drinking water in my city. I live in East Oakland, according to the EBMUD consumer confidence report the water comes from the “577-square mile watershed of the Mokelumne River on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. EBMUD reports this area is mostly national forest, undeveloped lands little affected by human activity. The Mokelumne watershed collects snowmelt from Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties, which flows into Pardee Reservoir near the town of Valley Springs. Three large aqueducts carry water 90 miles from Pardee Reservoir to the East Bay.” EBMUD has six treatment plants and all water is treated before it reaches homes. The report states that the treatment plants can filter and process more than 375 million gallons of water daily. The samples and tests results in the report were better than I expected. I was concerned about lead exposure and only out of the 55 sites was above the regulatory action level. EBMUD offers free testing for lead and I will be looking into it. Lead is known to impact the development of young children and it is carcinogenic. I was also concerned about disinfection byproducts and in the report EBMUD addresses it, stating they are continuing to reduce the byproducts and looking into improvements. I do not have a filter in my home, I like the taste of my tap water and reduced my purchasing of bottled waters.

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