Where does our water come from?

• All water supplied to the EAWSD system is provided by wells drilled into underlying aquifers. District wells are typically deeper than domestic wells in the area and are constructed to state standards for public water systems, which provide protection from potential surface contamination.

Is our water safe to drink?

• Yes.  Our water is tested regularly and meets or exceeds all state and federal water quality standards. Additional information about EAWSD water quality and copies of our annual water quality reports are available on the EAWSD website.

Is our water treated with chemicals?

• Even though our water supply is a high quality groundwater, a small amount of chlorine must be added to the water to prevent the possibility of microbial growth as the water moves through the distribution system to customers' taps. Some individuals are more sensitive to the taste and smell of chlorine in the water than others. If the chlorine level is bothersome, it can be dissipated by keeping an open pitcher of water for drinking in your refrigerator. Some commercially available tap filters and pitcher-type filters are also effective for removing chlorine. If you experience a persistent, strong taste or odor of chlorine from your tap water, call our operations office to request a test.

Is there lead in Eldorado's water?

• Lead occurs in drinking water when the water, flowing through plumbing systems, leaches lead from pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly lead service lines (the lateral pipes between the water main in the street and the home). Lead service lines are the source of the problem in Flint, Michigan, the subject of recent media attention. There are no known lead service lines in the Eldorado area. Brass fixtures and lead solder, however, can be a minor source of lead in customers’ plumbing. The federal regulatory standard for lead in drinking water requires that 90% of customers tested have lead levels below 15 parts per billion (ppb). Our last required lead testing in July 2015 showed 90% of customers tested below 4.8 ppb, 68% below the minimum regulatory level. The highest level tested was 7.9 ppb, 47% below the minimum regulatory level. Of the homes tested, 40% had no detection of lead whatsoever.

How hard is our water?

• Water hardness is a measure of the amount of minerals dissolved in the water, particularly calcium carbonate and magnesium. Water is 'soft' when it falls from the sky as rain, but 'hardens' as it travels through soil and rock, dissolving minerals. Since EAWSD draws its water from deep wells drilled into rock formations, our water is very hard. Generally, the water hardness is about 250 parts per million or milligrams per liter. This is also equivalent to about 15 grains per gallon. If you wish to soften your tap water with a commercially-available water softener, the installer will want to know this water hardness level in order to properly adjust the softener.

How much water does the District pump?

• The District pumped 152 million gallons of water (468 acre-feet) in 2016. In the past five years, water production has declined over 14% while the number of customers has increased by 2.1%. This decline in production can be attributed to both increased conservation efforts by customers and improvements managing system losses and leaks. Water production reports are created monthly and reviewed by the Board of Directors.

Is there enough water to meet the needs of the Eldorado area?

• For the present - yes. A hydrology report commissioned in 2001 indicated that immediate needs could be met through additional wells with increased pumping capacity, but suggested that long-term needs would likely require the importing of water for a sustainable supply. A second hydrology study and groundwater model conducted by Glorieta Geoscience, Inc. in 2007 reassessed the situation and determined that EAWSD has a 100-year supply of groundwater, assuming no increase in water production (and it has actually decreased by over 18% since 2007). However, the water supply issue must be monitored closely. Drought conditions over the past 5 years appear to have reduced water production in a number of wells. The rate of recharge of the aquifers is critical to the sustainability of water production.

Does EAWSD have adequate water rights to meet future needs?

• Yes. In 2010, the Office of the State Engineer issued Partial Licenses for the District's current and future water rights in two well fields. The granting of these licenses establishes the current water rights of the District at 783.43 acre-feet per year and permits the development of a further 254.37 acre-feet for a total of up to 1,037.6 acre-feet per year. During 2016, EAWSD pumped just 468 acre-feet of water.