Annual drinking water report says supply meets federal
standards
Despite the hardness of Hollister’s water, which if noted for
its corrosive effects on pipes and appliances, it is safe to drink,
according to the city’s recently-released annual water quality
report.
The report, which was mailed to customers over the past two
weeks, notes that city water meets all federal and state
requirements.
Annual drinking water report says supply meets federal standards
Despite the hardness of Hollister’s water, which if noted for its corrosive effects on pipes and appliances, it is safe to drink, according to the city’s recently-released annual water quality report.
The report, which was mailed to customers over the past two weeks, notes that city water meets all federal and state requirements.
While all drinking water “may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants,” the report states, “it’s important to remember that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.
“It’s pretty consistent, as far as the quality goes,” said Henry Gonzales, utilities supervisor for the city. “Hollister has hard water, as everybody knows, but the quality is consistent. It’s when you have drastic changes that there would be a concern.”
City crews do regular monitoring of Hollister’s 45-mile-long water distribution system, checking for coliform bacteria, lead and copper, byproducts of water disinfection and erosion of natural deposits, including runoff from agriculture.
“The most common thing you see is some calcifying around household fixtures,” Gonzales said. “Hot water heaters also go out because of sediment accumulation.”
According to the report, the city obtained 82 percent of its drinking water from its seven active groundwater wells throughout the city and the Cienega Valley. Twelve percent came from San Felipe Project surface water, which is treated at the city’s LESSALT water treatment plant, and the remaining 6 percent comes from Sunnyslope County Water District groundwater wells.
As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can also pick up substances resulting from animal or human activity. In 2009, the city’s water system had no violations.
“Although some contaminants are detectable,” the report states, “they occur below maximum allowable levels.”
“We’re always looking at nitrates, copper, lead, and other naturally-occurring things,” Gonzales said. “Nitrates are the most common, especially in an agricultural community.”
Hollister water is sometimes discolored by trace amounts of dissolved iron and manganese, which can cause a yellow or brown color most often visible in white bathtubs, sinks or toilets. The city says this does not constitute a health risk and flushing of water pipes often remedies the situation.
When water appears cloudy or milky, it is typically due to air bubbles created when the distribution pipes transport the water. The bubbles will initially make a glass of water appear cloudy, but will slowly go away, according to the water report.
The most common reasons for the poor smell or taste of Hollister’s water are the presence of chlorine used to disinfect the water supply or hydrogen sulfide, which usually comes from a hot water faucet. The city recommends slightly turning up the temperature of a hot water heater and the periodic draining of the heater to alleviate a rotten-egg odor in water.
Copies of the groundwater report and summaries of completed assessments are available through the city’s utility division, 1291 South St. For more information, call 636-4377. Information about water conservation, including toilet replacements, free water-use audits and rebates, is available by calling 637-4378 or going to www.sbcwd.com and clicking on “water conservation.”
