Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Fountain Valley vigilantly safeguards the water supply. The water delivered to your home meets, and in most cases exceeds, the quality standards required by federal and state regulatory agencies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) are the agencies responsible for establishing and enforcing drinking water quality standards. Pursuant to the California Safe Drinking Water Act, the City monitors over 100 chemicals in the water supply. In some cases, the City goes beyond what is required by testing for unregulated chemicals that may have known health risks, but do not have drinking water quality standards. The City contracts with a State-approved laboratory to collect and analyze 30 water samples per week, as required by DDW. The City also maintains a water quality-monitoring program that analyzes 30 special water samples per month. These samples are taken at various locations throughout the system and are checked for color, odor, temperature and turbidity. The City publishes the results of this testing in its annual Water Quality Report which is available online and delivered to each mailing address in the City.

Absolutely not! Bottled water and tap water are regulated by different agencies. Tap water actually has more stringent reporting requirements, such as providing customers with a printed water quality report each year. Bottled water suppliers are not required to provide such data, but some may do so on request. The water provided to you by the City is clean, pure and ready to drink at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. Before choosing an alternative to tap water, compare data contained in the City of Fountain Valley Annual Water Quality Report with water quality data from the bottled water or filtration device you are considering. The decision to use bottled water or a filtration system should be based on taste or other aesthetic considerations, not on fear of health risks.

If you are experiencing low water pressure or no water at all, make sure you have paid your utility bill and check with your neighbors to see if they are experiencing the same problem. If your neighbors are ok, then the problem is most likely within your plumbing. If your neighbors are having a problem too, call the City at (714) 593-4420. You can easily find out where the problem might be by opening an outside spigot. If there is good water pressure, then the problem is somewhere within your plumbing system. Check all of the water valves to your home and make sure they are open all the way. The main water valve is usually located in front of the house before the hose bib. Additionally, check the water supply lines to the water fixtures and make sure those are also fully open. If all the water valves are fully open, check the water pressure throughout the house to see if the problem is isolated to one location. If the water pressure is low/weak throughout the house, you may have a pressure regulator that is in need of adjustment or repair. Pressure regulators are typically located right after your main water valve shutoff at the front of the house and have screens that need to be routinely cleaned. If they get plugged, they will prevent water from reaching your house. If the water pressure is low/weak in just a few areas, remove and check the faucet aerators to see if they are clogged. A plumber may need to be called to see if there are any plumbing issues inside the home. If water pressure is ok when you first open a valve but quickly drops off, you probably have an obstruction within your plumbing.

Check for any water treatment systems or water filters within the home. They need to be serviced regularly. Fill a clean container with water and take it outside of the house. Does it still smell or taste abnormal? If not, the problem most likely is the drainage system. A rotten egg or sulfur smell usually indicates bacteria growing in your drain or hot water heater. Is the smell coming from all taps or just one? If it's coming from just one tap, the problem is generally the drain and not the water. The odor comes from material, such as hair or food particles, decomposing in the drain. To get rid of the odor, pour about a half cup of liquid bleach into the drain. To prevent odors from returning, routinely flush drains with a small amount of bleach once a month. If the smell is coming from all taps, use the same flushing procedure outlined above for all affected drains. Is the problem tap one that is seldom used, such as a guest bathroom? Or, if the whole house is involved, did you recently return from vacation? Often when a sink or shower is not used for a period of time, the material in the drain remains odorless until water is first turned on. When water hits the built-up material, odor is generated. Use the same bleach flushing procedure outlined above to treat the affected drains. Is the odor coming from both hot and cold water? If it's coming from just the hot water, then your water heater may need flushing. Annual flushing of the hot water heater should keep the problem from returning. Hot water heater odors can also result from having the temperature set too low. To prevent bacterial growth, hot water heaters should not be set below 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Care should be taken in homes with young children, elderly or disabled residents to prevent accidental scalding. Are you taking any new medications that may affect your sense of smell or taste? Ask your doctor if any of your medications might be affecting your sense of taste or smell. If you continue to experience smell or taste problems with your water, please call our water quality personnel at (714) 593-4624.

Unlike many areas of Orange County, Fountain Valley is not dependent upon only one source of water. Approximately 75 percent of our total domestic water supply is local groundwater pumped from wells within the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The remaining 25 percent of our water supply is imported water which is purchased from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). MWD imports water from the Colorado River via the Colorado River Aqueduct and from Northern California via the California Aqueduct, also known as the State Water Project. The City generally uses water from the Colorado River, Northern California and local wells and the mix varies throughout the year. Imported water is treated by MWD using chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia. The City uses chlorine to treat well water as it enters the distribution system. Because your water sources may vary or be made up of a blending of these various types of water, you may notice a difference in the taste or hardness (mineral content) of the water at different times of year. None of these factors affect the safety of your water. Having multiple sources of water is beneficial for Fountain Valley customers. Local groundwater is both higher in quality and lower in cost than imported water which must travel hundreds of miles through aqueduct systems. Having more than one source also improves the overall reliability of our water supply.

Tap water can sometimes appear cloudy. Cloudy water, also commonly described as milky white, hazy, soapy or foamy, is usually caused by air in the water. This can occur naturally and is caused by dissolved air in the water that is released when the faucet is opened. When you relieve the pressure by opening the faucet and fill your glass with water, the air is now free to escape from the water. Because cold water holds more air than warm water, small bubbles will appear in water that is heated or depressurized because this reduces how much dissolved gas the water can hold. This can also occur during the time of year when the water coming into the house is colder than the temperature inside the house. When the cold water from the water mains outside comes inside our warm homes the water begins to warm and the oxygen has to escape. It does so by bubbling out in air bubbles which makes the water look milky. The presence of air can sometimes also be traced to pipeline repairs in the area. To see if the “white” color in the water is due to air, fill a clear glass with water and set it on the counter. Observe the glass of water for two or three minutes. If the “white” color is due to air, the water will begin to clear at the bottom of the glass first and then gradually clear all the way to the top. If the cloudiness does not clear after five minutes, call our water quality personnel at (714) 593-4624.

The answer to that question is "yes and no" because the degree of hardness varies depending upon the time of year and your location within the City. Water hardness refers to the mineral content in the water and is commonly expressed in "grains" of hardness. Generally water with 10 grains or more is considered "hard." Water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California is typically hard, while the City’s well water is moderately hard. For specific hardness levels for each source, please refer to the City’s current Water Quality Report. While the hardness of the water does not affect its safety, the higher mineral content can cause white spots on glasses in the dishwasher. The City generally uses water from the Colorado River, Northern California and local wells. Water use is alternated throughout the year. Because water is blended from a variety of sources, you may notice spotting on glassware more during the winter. It is best to read the owner's manual for your dishwasher and follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding settings for 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. For more information click, on the following link.

These white particles are probably pieces of the dip tube from your hot water heater. Several brands of hot water heaters were made using a dip tube that disintegrates over time. The dip tube carries the cold water from the top of the hot water heater to the bottom, where the cold water is heated. Over time, the dip tube disintegrates and the white dip tube particles are carried through the household pipes. If the particles are large enough, they are caught in the strainers of the sink faucets or showerheads. Since it only affects hot water, these particles will only be found in places where hot water travels; so the toilet and automatic ice maker will not contain these particles if indeed they are from the dip tube. If you are experiencing a problem of this nature, call the manufacturer of your hot water heater for further information.