California’s historic drought, followed by record-setting rainfall, continues to have impacts on drinking water systems throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The East Bay Municipal Utility District is experiencing water quality and treatment challenges due to reduced water consumption, higher temperatures, and higher concentrations of natural organic carbon in our untreated ‘raw’ water from Pardee Reservoir in the Sierra foothills.
Reduced water consumption – a tremendous benefit for EBMUD’s water supplies and future water needs – has reduced flows and water use in our distribution systems. Reduced use can result in increased water age – the amount of time water remains in our pipes and storage tanks.
Water age, along with water chemistry changes, can affect the residual disinfection used to protect the distribution system – the treatment that removes water borne pathogens from our drinking water. Flushing moves water through the distribution system, removes sediment and mineral deposits that can accumulate in water pipes, and helps maintain our high water quality throughout the drinking water system.