Regarding Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions

Is my water safe to drink? Check out our Annual Consumer Confidence Report ( Consumer Confidence Report Palmdale Water District meets or beats ALL safe drinking water standards established by the EPA and California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

My water is milky & white in appearance, what should I do? Fill glass with water Let it sit on counter for a minute or two Bubbles rise to top and water clears Milkiness was due to air being in water. This can occur when water is pumped from underground wells. Water is safe to drink. or Particles settle to bottom of glass Please request a water quality investigation by calling the office at:

I am concerned because my water is colored, rusty, or contains foreign particles, what should I do? If there has been recent construction in your area The construction may have released rust from pipes. Run the tap until the water clears. It should clear up after several minutes. If you have just returned from vacation The water may have become stagnant. Run the tap until the water clears. It should clear up fairly quickly. If you have a home water softener or carbon filter Home water treatment devices can malfunction and release particles into the water. Follow manufacturers maintenance instructions. If you believe the problem is from our water supply, please call and request a water quality investigation.

My cooking utensils have scale and my glassware is spotted or has a white film, is this from the water and what can I do? This is due to water hardness which is caused by two minerals Calcium Magnesium Water is safe to drink regardless of hardness Health authorities generally agree that the hardness of drinking water normally encountered has no adverse effect on human health. You could choose to get a home water softening system to help with the hard water issues There are pros and cons to using in-home water softening systems. Please research to determine if it is advisable for your situation.

I am concerned because my family became ill, could it be from drinking tap water? It is unlikely that illness was caused from drinking tap water. Water samples are taken regularly Water is disinfected to destroy disease- causing bacteria Do you have a home treatment device (water softener, carbon filter system, reverse osmosis system)? Improper maintenance may result in bacteria being introduced into an otherwise safe water supply In-home treatment devices are a common source of contamination. Please follow all manufacturers maintenance instructions. Very few people in the U.S. develop an illness attributable to water. Please consult your physician If it is determined that your illness is caused by your drinking water, please contact us for a water quality investigation. If you wish we can test your water for possible contamination. Call the office at

Can the chlorine in my tap water cause skin irritation? The level of chlorine in your treated water is safe to drink, too low to harm your skin and will not be absorbed into the skin and get into your body. Generally, skin irritation can be caused by detergents, soaps, lotions, shampoos, etc. – please consult your physician. Dryness of skin is common in the winter months. Bathing and showering can wash oils out of the skin which can compound the problem. Our dry desert climate can contribute to skin irritation, so if youve just moved into the area it may take some time for your body to adjust to the changes in conditions.

What is causing our water to smell and taste funny? We have installed eight lake circulation devices (Solar Bees ® ) to induce continuous water movement, thereby preventing the occurrence of major algae blooms. Since 2008 our plant has been using GAC (one of the best technologies available) for removal of taste and odor causing compounds. We have a flushing program for the distribution system to ensure water doesnt stagnate in system dead ends.

Why do we smell chlorine in the water and what can we do about it? Chlorine is added to the water to destroy disease causing bacteria. The dosage is low and closely monitored and controlled. Your water is safe to drink. If you are sensitive to chlorine smell and taste, you can install an activated carbon filter. Information about this kind of device can be found online at the California Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Program. Manufacturers installation and maintenance instructions need to be followed for the device to be effective.

Theres an odor coming from my tap water, what can I do about it? Collect a glass of water from the tap. Take it and walk away from the sink. Smell the glass of water. If the odor is not evident from the glass, but is evident when standing over the sink, then the odor is most likely from the drain or the sink tap. You could have a partially blocked sink drain or garbage disposal. The screen on the sink tap maybe a source of organism growth and odor. Cleaning and sanitizing the screen, drain and sink with a bleach solution will usually eliminate the problem.

My water has a peculiar taste, what could be causing this? Foods Eating certain foods like cranberries, spinach, or foods with peppermint flavoring may sometimes cause water to seem to have a peculiar taste. Sickness When a person is ill, certain food or medicine can cause an assumed water taste or odor issue. In-home Treatment Device Improper care of home treatment devices like a softener, carbon filter, reverse osmosis system may be a source of poor tasting water. Water Heater Water heaters need to be drained periodically to eliminate bacteria that can cause poor taste issues.

There is oil in my water. What is the cause and what can I do? If repairs have not been recently done on your plumbing system and you notice oil in your water, call the office at to schedule a water quality investigation. Has your plumbing recently been repaired ? Pipe joint compounds, cutting oil or flux used in pipe repair and installation can sometimes be released when service is restored. Remove the faucet screens and aerators and flush the material out of the plumbing by running the tap for about 2 minutes. Wash screens and aerators with soap and water before reinstalling them. NO Yes

Is the water safe for my fish aquarium? Please consult a reputable fish aquarium store or expert fish hobbyist for the proper care and maintenance of aquariums. Aquarium water may need modification to be safe for fish De- chlorination pH adjustment Water temperature adjustment Alkalinity adjustment Our Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) contains the levels of the different constituents found in the water supply. View it online at

Are there chloramines in the water? No Some water agencies use chloramines as a disinfectant. We do not disinfect with the compound chloramine and have no plans in the future to do so. chloramines

Is fluoride added to the water? Please check out our Consumer Confidence Report. View it online at A small amount of fluoride occurs naturally in the water supply. We do not add fluoride to the water.

I want to request a water quality investigation. What do I need to do? Palmdale Water District Our representative will take down the information and a thorough investigation will be done. You will be notified of the results.