EMWD Concludes Water Quality Report

Extensive testing on Murrieta's water supply turned up clean results, according to a recently released report.

The Eastern Municipal Water District did more than 46,000 tests on 7,000 water samples during 2010 to compile the 12-page report.

The "Consumer Confidence Report" was mailed to customers in Southwest Riverside County.

With more than 40 sources of water for its almost 700,000 customers, testing for contaminants is ongoing. The standards are set by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Dept. of Public Health, according to the report.

The cities of Murrieta and Temecula are serviced by the Robert A. Skinner Filtration Plant. This also includes French Valley, Winchester, Vail Lake and occasionally Menifee. The source of the water is the Colorado River and the State Water Project.

The water project, which brings Northern California water to Southern California via the California Aqueduct, was controversial since it was first proposed in 1919.  

The report also covers Moreno Valley to Hemet and Perris to Soboba Hot Springs. The water source for those areas also includes the State Water Project and groundwater.

The water district completed assessments of its water sources in 2002, and the Colorado River, being a surface water source, was assessed as being most vulnerable to recreational activities, urban and storm water runoff, increasing urbanization in the watershed and wastewater. In addition to those assessed for the river, the water project also was vulnerable to wildlife and agricultural contaminants.

Source water is tested for many contaminants; salts and metals, pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, storm runoff and residential uses. Organic contaminants include microbial like bacteria and viruses that come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock and wildlife, according to the report.

There are also organic chemical contaminants, which include synthetic and volatile organic chemicals produced by local industry and petroleum production.

These can come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural application and septic systems. Radioactive contaminants can also come from oil and gas production and mining activities, but some can also occur naturally.

They also test for nitrate levels. In addition to testing for contaminants, the samples are also tested for odor and appearance.

Although many people purchase bottled water because they consider it has less contamination than tap water, the water district report states cost is also a consideration. The tap water is about one cent per gallon which is far less expensive than bottled water.

Bottled water is regulated by the Federal Drug Administration, as opposed to the EPA and the DPH, which regulate tap water, according to the water district's Public Affairs Officer, April Coady.

Those regulations are becoming closer to tap water standards over time. “They are almost the same at this point,” Coady said.

The district asked for community input on the report and its overall customer service. They have a posted an online survey at Emwd.org. It will be available for input for one year.