Consumer Confidence Report for South San Francisco

My Local CCR 

2017 CCR South San Francisco

1. What is the source of your drinking water?   Where does your water ORIGINATE?  (It is treated at a water treatment plant, but what watershed or aquifer is the sources of the water?)

The water that I have access to in my S. San Francisco home originates from spring snowmelt flowing down the Tuolumne River to storage in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. 

2. What chemicals were found in your water that were higher than expected?

When looking at the report, none of the listed detected contaminants were found above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). One thing that did make me nervous, was finding out that many chemicals were found in small amounts, which we have previously learned can have long-term effects even in low doses. For example, the MCL for lead is 15 ppb and it was found in a 1.0-6.7 ppb dose range in the water samples taken during the CCR. 

3. What chemicals did you NOT expect to find in your water?

I was surprised to learn that heavier metals, such as copper and aluminum were found in the water. I'm interested in learning whether these are mostly natural or whether they are introduced manually within our homes. 

4. Are there associated health risks with the chemicals found in your water?  (sources for this last question include the EPA, CDC, ATSDR and the National Library of Medicine's ToxNet program.

I believe most of the chemicals found in the water have some associated set of health risks. Although in small amounts, disinfection byproducts such as haloacetic acids (HHAs) and trihalomethanes, fluoride,  aluminum, chloride, sulfate, copper, and lead are some of the few listed in the CCR. For example, HHAs have been found to be carcinogenic and are also associated to reproductive and developmental effects (HHA health effects).

 Water quality

1. Where does your water come from? The source! Track it from the source to your tap. 

The major water source in my area originates from spring snowmelt flowing down the Tuolumne River to storage in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir which is an EPA protected water source. The water from the reservoir is treated by the San Francisco Public Utility Commission using ultraviolet light and chlorine disinfection, pH adjustment for optimal corrosion control, fluoridation for dental health protection, and chloramination for maintaining disinfectant residual and minimizing the formation of disinfection byproducts.

2. What did you discover about your water quality?

The water quality in my area seems to be quite safe for consumption. This was a stark difference compared to the report I referred to in my Air Pollution blog in which I shared, "San Mateo County is one of the dirtiest/worst counties with a high percentage of Surface Waters with Impaired or Threatened Uses and Impaired Waterbodies." I'd be interested in digging deeper to determine why the stark difference in the information. However, I do recall the information that I found for my Air Pollution blog was extremely dated. 

3. Do you use a filter for your water? 

At home, I do not. However, at work we have a built-in filter into our office space, which I use often. I drink most of my daily water at work and consume bottled water at home. 

4. What are you trying to filter out?

I'm hoping it will mostly filter out toxins, such as metals. I'm not sure if it would successfully filter led, but that would be my most significant concern due to the health implications it poses. 

5. Do you drink bottled water?   How does this square with what you learned when you watched the Story of Bottled Water (see next exercise)?

I do drink bottled water and I'm in awe at how easy it is to sway my beliefs based on manufactured demand. I've slowly been transitioning to tap water, but find myself preferring the flavor of bottled water, compared to what I get from my tap. I'm also nervous to drink tap water within my home, because it is an older home and I believe there may also be old lead-lined pipes transporting my water. 

If I drink from water bottles, I do my best to be mindful by recycling the bottles. Health-wise, I also make sure to purchase BPS-free bottles and I don't let them sit in the sun, because of the fear that they will release carcinogens into my water due to the heated plastic.