FROM LAWDP:
Los Angeles Water Quality
Water Quality Concerns?
For issues regarding your water quality feel free to, Contact Us or call us at (213) 367-3182.
This annual report summarizes the quality of water that LADWP customers receive. It contains water contaminant information as well as information about water sources and how we meet drinking water requirements.
Drinking Water Quality Report Can Be Found at the LADWP Website
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY AT HOME AND FIXING COMMON PLUMBING PROBLEMS
https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/aboutus/a-water/a-w-waterquality/a-w-wq-improvingwaterqualityathome;jsessionid=nDP9pDpLyy0n6m2wj1bykRXvKSWyMRn6hLCXJR10BLPn76fyN2Bb!33633300?_adf.ctrl-state=pl6tnx3aj_92&_afrLoop=132368025700848&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26_afrLoop%3D132368025700848%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3D151vbf3eyt_4
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A perceived odor of rotten eggs or sewage in the water is usually caused by sewer gases forming in the household drain. These gases are formed by bacteria which live on food, soap, hair, and other organic matter in the drain. These gases are heavier than air and remain in the drain until the water is turned on. As the water runs down the drain, the gases are expelled into the air around the sink. It is natural to associate these odors with the water because they are observed only when the water is turned on. However, the odor is not in the water; it is simply the water pushing the gas out of the drain.
To eliminate this problem, the bacteria in the drain must be killed. This process is called disinfecting the drain and is outlined in the following five steps.
Caution: Do not mix any drain cleaners or detergents with bleach; certain combinations can create toxic fumes.
- Run the cold water for about 15 seconds into the drain that is to be disinfected, then turn the water off.
- Pour approximately one to two cups of liquid chlorine bleach (laundry bleach) down the drain (or drains) where the odor is present. Pour the bleach slowly around the edges of the drain so that it runs down the sides of the drain. Caution: Bleach may cause eye damage, skin irritation, and may damage clothing - BE CAREFUL!
- If the odor is coming from a sink with a garbage disposal, turn the disposal on for a few seconds while the bleach is being poured. This will disperse the bleach around the inside of the disposal. Caution: Bleach may cause eye damage, skin irritation, and may damage clothing - take care to avoid splashing for the few seconds the disposal is turned on
- Allow the bleach to remain undisturbed in the drain for about 10 minutes. Caution: Prolonged contact with metals may cause pitting and/or discoloration.
- After 10 minutes, run the hot water into the drain for a minute or two to flush out the bleach. If a garbage disposal was disinfected, thoroughly flush it as well.
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How to Flush a Water Heater
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Water heaters should be flushed at least once a year - twice a year is even better - to control the build-up of mineral deposits. This will help the water heater operate more energy efficiently and will usually extend the life of the heater.
Furthermore, the water heater may need to be flushed if the hot water becomes discolored (dirty or murky) due to an accumulation of rust or if you find sand-like mineral sediment in the hot water.
The procedure for flushing your water heater is outlined in the following steps:
- Do NOT shut off the gas or the water supply to the heater. Lower the temperature to its lowest setting. If you plan on using the water to be drained for another purpose, consider turning off the heater ahead of time, say the night before, to allow the water sufficient time to cool. If the heater is electric, locate and shut off the power source; circuit breaker or fuse.
- Attach a garden hose to the draincock (pictured below) located at the bottom of the heater. The draincock usually looks like a regular hose bib (garden faucet) or a round dial with a threaded hole in the middle.
- Extend the garden hose to a place where the water can drain safely from the heater (e.g. a sewer drain, a driveway, etc.) or to a receptacle, if you have cooled the water for another use.
- Open the draincock slowly. Opening the valve draincock slowly prevents the stirring up of the sediment at the bottom of the heater. This will improve the efficiency of the flush. Caution: The water leaving the heater will be hot, if temperature was not lowered in advance, and under normal household water pressure. Also note that if the draincock is made of plastic and the heater is old, it may be difficult to open and may break easily if forced. So be prepared if that happens.
- After five minutes of flushing, fill a bucket with the still flushing water.
- Allow the water in the bucket to stand undisturbed for a minute and see if the water is clear or if any sand-like material settles to the bottom. If the water is clear and no sand-like material is present, go on to step 7. If the water is discolored and/or sand-like material is present at the bottom of the bucket, repeat steps 5 and 6 until the flush water is completely clear and free of sediment.
- Close the draincock and remove the garden hose.
- Turn the heater back on, if it was turned off.
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How to Flush Household Pipes
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A bleachy or chemical taste and odor in the water in your home or business is often caused by an accumulation of organic material in the plumbing. LADWP puts chlorine into the water to control bacterial growth, but it can react with this organic material in your pipes to create chlorine by products. Many of these by products have a very strong chemical or bleachy taste and odor.
Improving water quality is as simple as flushing your water pipes to remove the accumulation of organic material. This procedure is outlined in the following steps.
- Remove the screens (called aerators) from the ends of the indoor faucets and run all of the faucets wide-open and simultaneously for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Flush the toilets two or three times each while the faucets are running. Running all the water faucets and toilets simultaneously generates a large flow of water through the pipes and will generally dislodge any build-up of organic material that is causing the taste and odor problem. Removing the aerators before flushing the plumbing will prevent anything dislodged by flushing from accumulating on the screens.
- After 3 to 5 minutes of flushing, turn off the water faucets, clean the aerators, and reinstall the aerators on the ends of the faucets
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How to Treat Potentially Contaminated Water in an Emergency
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During an emergency, such as a major earthquake, the LADWP may issue a "boil water notice" until we can verify that the water is not contaminated and is safe to drink. During a "boil water notice" any water used for drinking or food preparation should be boiled at a full rolling boil for at least one full minute. A full rolling boil is a vigorous boil that cannot be stopped by stirring the water. If the water is very dirty or cloudy looking and/or has particles in it, filter the water through a coffee filter, paper towels, or clean cloth before boiling.
If the emergency has left you with no way to boil the water or if you have limited fuel and do not want to use it for boiling water, you may treat the water with liquid chlorine laundry bleach.
Caution: do not use scented laundry bleach, powdered bleach, or swimming pool chlorine - these contain additional chemicals that are poisonous. Below is a chart showing how much liquid bleach to add to the water.
Quantities of bleach used to treat water for emergencies:
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Amount of Water
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Amount of bleach to add to clear water
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Amount of bleach to add to cloudy water
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1 gallon
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8 drops
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16 drops
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5 gallons
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½ teaspoon
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1 teaspoon
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55 gallons
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2 tablespoons
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¼ cup
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After you add the bleach, thoroughly mix by stirring or shaking the container. Let the water stand for 30 minutes before using. A slight chlorine odor should be noticeable in the water, if not, add another dosage of bleach and allow the water to stand another 15 minutes before using.
The water can also be treated with the use of water purification tablets which can be purchased at most sporting goods stores. Follow the directions for use on the package you purchase.
Treat only enough water to meet your needs for 48 hours at a time. There is an increased chance of re-contamination if the treated water sits for more than 48 hours. Refrigeration will also help avoid re-contamination.
Please Note: Most home water filters are meant for water that is already microbiologically safe. Using these filters during a "boil water notice" will not guarantee the safety of the water. Replace any filter cartridges after the boil water notice has been lifted to ensure your filter is not contaminated.
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FROM BEVERLY HILLS WATER:
Beverly Hills Water Services
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR POTABLE WATER:
The City of Beverly Hills uses chloramines to disinfect your water. The City is required to disinfect your water to prevent waterborne pathogens. Your drinking water also contains small amounts of fluoride ions. This additive can help prevent tooth decay. The fluoride concentration in your water ranges from 0.6 to 1.2 mg/L. Your water's average hardness is approximately 290 mg/L or 17 grains/gallon. Drought conditions and water allocation issues have affected the water hardness in your potable water.
Should you have questions regarding the City of Beverly Hills' water quality, please contact our Public Works Customer Service at 310-285-4900, or click on the following link to view our Consumer Confidence Reports(Water Quality).
https://calwep.org/resource/practical-plumbing-handbook-2018/
Finding a Leak
Where, Oh Where, Could Your Water Leak Be?
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BASIC AREAS TO LOOK FOR LEAKS
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Area
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Leak
(gallons/hr)
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How to Detect It
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Toilet
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Up to 200
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Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait 15 minutes. If food color leaks to toilet bowl, you have a leak. To avoid staining the toilet, flush after test is completed.
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Irrigation
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Up to hundreds
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1. Check each head and riser for leaks.
2. Check the valve to see if it is leaking.
3. If there are no leaks here, turn off the valve that moves water to your
irrigation system (not all homes have this) – Note that this has nothing
to do with your irrigation controller. Underground irrigation leaks are
more common in older, galvanized pipes.
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Water Heater
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Up to hundreds
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Check your heater water leaking into a nearby drain. (Note: This can also cause an increase to your gas bill.)
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Pool, Pond or Jacuzzi
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Up to hundreds
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1. Check float valve to see if it’s functioning properly.
2. Check auto fill to see if it’s running. Check the water feature for leaks.
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Pipes
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Up to hundreds
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1. Check pipes to house, especially older, galvanized steel.
2. It may take a leak detection company to detect more challenging leaks.
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METALLIC BALLON SAFETY
Kites and balloons that come in contact with power lines can cause power outages. Keep them far away. If the wind pushes your kite near a power line, let go of it.If you see anything caught in power lines, call us at 1-800-611-1911. Enjoy Balloons Safely
Keep balloons indoors and far away from power lines. More tips:
- Never attach metallic streamers to balloons
- Be sure balloons are secured with weights as required by California law; find balloon weights at party supply stores
Balloon Safety Tips >
Flying Kites Safely
Enjoy your kite by flying it in an open area far away from overhead power lines and electricity facilities. More tips:
- Never attach anything metallic – wire, string, or fabric – to a kite
- Never fly a kite that’s damp or wet
For More Information, Please Visit:
Keep Mylar Balloons Away From Powerlines
Cities Approve Bans To Deflate Metallic Balloon Problem
Celebrations Go Virtual but Metallic Balloon Hazards Remain All Too Real | Energized by Edison
As Outages Spike, Celebrate Moms, and Grads With Secure Metallic Balloons
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