Groundwater Quality

What is nitrate?
Nitrate is formed in the soil when nitrogen and oxygen combine. Fertilizers, septic systems, and livestock waste contribute additional nitrate, so elevated nitrate is most often found in rural and agricultural areas. Since the Santa Clara Valley has a long history of agricultural production and septic systems are still in use in some areas, nitrate is an ongoing groundwater protection challenge, particularly in South County.

How does nitrate get into my well water?  
Nitrate travels easily through the soil, carried by rain or irrigation water into groundwater supplies. Wells that tap groundwater may be affected. Shallow wells, wells near a source, wells in sandy soil, or wells that are improperly constructed or maintained are more likely to have nitrate contamination.

Does nitrate pose a health risk?  
Nitrate can interfere with the blood's ability to transport oxygen, causing a condition called methemoglobinemia. It is of greatest concern for infants and pregnant women, and the effects of nitrate are often referred to as "blue baby syndrome." For more information on the health effects of nitrate, please see the State Division of Drinking Water website at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/Nitrate.html or consult your health care provider.

What is the safe level of nitrate in drinking water?  
Nitrate is a regulated drinking water contaminant in California. The maximum contaminant level is 45 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for nitrate as nitrate (NO3) or 10 mg/L for nitrate as nitrogen (N). Public water systems are required to monitor water quality and take action to ensure water delivered to consumers meets drinking water standards for all regulated contaminants, including nitrate.

What is the Santa Clara Valley Water District doing about nitrate?  
Since the 1990s,Valley Water has implemented many programs and worked with stakeholders and other agencies to:

• define the extent and severity of nitrate contamination,
• identify potential sources of nitrate,
• reduce nitrate loading to groundwater, and
• reduce customer exposure to elevated nitrate.

Current Valley Water efforts include continued groundwater recharge (which helps to dilute nitrate), groundwater monitoring, public outreach, and collaboration with other agencies. Valley Water also led efforts to develop regional salt and nutrient management plans.

Do I need to test my water for nitrate?  
If your water comes from a public water supply, such as a city or water company, it is tested regularly to ensure that it meets drinking water standards. Contact the agency that provides your water bill to get more information on water quality, including nitrate.

If your water comes from a domestic well, you are responsible for ensuring that it is safe to drink. Because nitrate is colorless and odorless, the surest way to tell if you have nitrate in your water is to have it tested. Valley Water encourages domestic wells owners to have their well water tested annually by a local state-certified laboratory. Testing should be more frequent if there is a change in the water taste, odor, or appearance. Domestic well owners may be eligible for Valley Water. Visit the domestic well testing web page or call us at (408) 630-2300

What do the results of my water test mean? 
Lab results should be interpreted carefully since nitrate can be measured as NO3 (nitrate) or as N (nitrogen). The state drinking water standard for nitrate as NO3 is 45 mg/L. This is equivalent to 10 mg/L for nitrate as N. Results above these standards would require action by a public drinking water system, such as blending or treatment. Although domestic wells are not subject to drinking water standards, these standards provide context to help interpret the results of your water test.

What can I do if my well water is high in nitrate? 
If the level of nitrate in your water is higher than the drinking water standard, you may want to consider installing a water treatment system or using an alternate source of water for drinking, cooking, and mixing baby formula. Boiling the water does not remove nitrate but may instead increase the nitrate concentration.

The State Division of Drinking Water maintains a list of residential water treatment systems certified to reduce nitrate. These systems are typically installed under the kitchen sink and many can be purchased for less than $750. You can also contact a water treatment system vendor for further assistance. Valley Water recommends you ask for assurance from the vendor or manufacturer that the water treatment system you are considering will work for your situation.

How can I guard against nitrate in my water?  
Fertilizer, septic systems, and animal waste and are all potential sources of nitrate contamination. The following guidelines will help to reduce the risk of nitrate contamination:

• Ensure proper well location, construction, and maintenance: Wells should be located uphill (upgradient) and at least 100 feet away from septic tanks, leach fields, animal confinement areas, and fertilized areas. The well casing should extend above the ground and surface runoff should be directed away from the wellhead. The concrete slab on the wellhead should be intact. 

• Perform proper septic system maintenance: To help avoid system failure that can lead to contamination and the need for costly repairs, maintain your system according to the specifications and consider the tips below:

  o Don’t drive or park heavy equipment over your septic tank, drain pipes or leach field.
  o Avoid planting trees or shrubs near drain pipes or the leach field as roots can clog the lines.
  o Don't dispose of hazardous chemicals or non-biodegradable materials in your toilet or drain.
  o Install a lint trap on your washing machine.
  o Conserve water.
  o Have your septic tank inspected and pumped every three to five years (more often if you have a garbage disposal).
  o If you have two leach fields, switch them every year.

• Reduce your fertilizer use: Use fertilizers only when necessary, and according to the manufacturer's instructions.

For more information  

Valley Water’s “Guide for the Private Well Owner” offers helpful information on water quality testing, well maintenance, and groundwater protection.

For general information on nitrate or groundwater quality, contact the Valley Water’s Groundwater Hotline at (408) 630-2300.

For information on well treatment or septic system operation, contact the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health at (408) 918-3400.

What is chromium-6? 
Chromium-6, or hexavalent chromium, is a naturally occurring metal. It is also used in several industrial processes. There are other forms of chromium such as Chromium-3, which is an essential nutrient and is sold as a dietary supplement.

What are the health effects of chromium-6? 
Chromium-6 has been known to cause cancer in humans when inhaled. In scientific studies in laboratory animals, Chromium-6 has also been linked to cancer when ingested.  

How does chromium-6 get into water supplies? 
Chromium-6 can occur naturally so it may be present in some groundwater aquifers. The types of rocks and soil associated with Chromium-6 are known to occur in parts of Santa Clara County. Chromium-6 can also reach water supplies via runoff and/or from industrial uses such as stainless-steel production, metal plating, and leather tanning.  

Is there a drinking water standard for chromium-6? 
On October 1, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) adopted a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 micrograms per liter, which is equal to 10 parts per billion (ppb). One part per billion is the equivalent of adding one drop of water in an Olympic size (660,000 gallon) swimming pool.

MCLs are designed to protect public health and be feasible for water agencies to achieve. The MCL is an enforceable regulatory standard that must be met by all public water systems. For more information, please visit:
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/SWRCBDDW-21-003_hexavalent_chromium.html

The State Board also has an MCL of 50 ppb for total chromium. This enforceable standard for total chromium is more stringent than the federal limit of 100 ppb.

Has local water been tested for chromium-6? 
Valley Water has tested water from our three drinking water treatment plants and has never detected Chromium-6 at or above 1 ppb. This is the lowest reporting level currently available for a state accredited laboratory.  

Because it occurs naturally in soil and rock, Chromium-6 is found more often in groundwater than in surface water. Chromium-6 has been tested at over 250 public water supply wells in Santa Clara County and was below the 10 ppb drinking water limit in 99% of wells. Chromium-6 results ranged from non-detect to 19 ppb, and the median level was 2 ppb.

How do I know if my water contains chromium-6? 
Public water systems throughout the state have tested for Chromium-6. If you get your water from a water company or city, they can provide you with the best information on the quality of water delivered to you. You can find contact information for your water retailer at valleywater.org/find-my-retailer.

If your water comes from a private domestic well, you may want to test your water for Chromium-6. Valley Water recommends using a laboratory certified to test drinking water. A list of local certified laboratories is available at valleywater.org/your-water/groundwater/certified-laboratories.

Is there a filter that will reduce chromium-6? 
Yes, treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis can reduce or remove Chromium-6. The State Board provides information on home treatment devices at waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/device/watertreatmentdevices.html.

Valley Water recommends that you talk to the manufacturer or the company installing the system to confirm it will meet your needs. 

Is this the chemical that was the subject of the movie, “Erin Brockovich”? 
Yes. However, the levels detected in Santa Clara County groundwater are far lower than levels detected due to industrial contamination in Hinkley, California (the subject of the movie).

Is chromium-6 found in bottled water? 
Bottled water producers are not required to test for Chromium-6. Valley Water recommends consumers contact bottled water producers directly for information about their product’s water quality.  

What is Valley Water doing about chromium-6? 
We take our responsibility to provide safe, clean water and to protect local groundwater very seriously. Valley Water and our water retailers use proven technologies and best practices to ensure drinking water delivered to residents and businesses meets or exceeds all drinking water standards. We will continue to track the science and regulations for Chromium-6, and provide timely, transparent accurate information communication to our customers and the public.
 

Questions? 

To find out more about chromium-6, please contact Geoff Tick at 408 630-2060 or [email protected].  

What is it?

Hardness is a measure of dissolved minerals (usually calcium and magnesium) in water. As water comes into contact with soil and rock, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals resulting in increased hardness. Hardness is measured in milligrams of calcium carbonate (CaC03) per liter (mg/L) or in grains per gallon. As shown below, water with hardness over 180 mg/L is considered very hard. The hardness in groundwater in Santa Clara County averages over 250 mg/L. By comparison, the average hardness of the District’s treated surface water is less than 120 mg/L.

What are the health effects?

Hard water does not pose a health risk, and there is no health-based drinking water standard. In fact, hard water may help you meet daily requirements for calcium and magnesium in your diet.

What problems are associated with hard water?
Although hardness does not affect the safety of your water, it can cause aesthetic issues. Hard water can affect the taste of your water and can be a nuisance for cleaning tasks. The taste is sometimes described as metallic or medicinal because of naturally occurring iron and minerals in the groundwater. Hard water deposits may build up on dishes, glasses, plumbing fixtures, and wash basins, and hardness may cause poor soap and detergent performance. Hard water can also cause the build-up of scale on pipes and fixtures that can eventually lead to lower water pressure and reduced efficiency of water heaters.

How do I test for hardness?
If your water comes from a public water supply, such as a city or a water company, your water is regularly tested for hardness and many other substances. Each year, retail water providers publish a water quality report to show consumers exactly what is in the water they provide.

If your water comes from a domestic well, you may be eligible for free basic water quality testing by the water district, including testing of water hardness. Contact the water district’s Groundwater Hotline at (408) 630-2300 for more information.

If you want to test your water for hardness, the water district recommends that you use a state-certified laboratory.

• Certified local labs

How can I treat it in my water?
Hardness does not pose a health hazard, but if you want to reduce the hardness of your water for aesthetic reasons, you can install a water softener or ion exchange system. These systems can increase the sodium content of your water, which may pose health concerns for your household. These systems may also contribute additional salts to wastewater treatment plants and ultimately to recycled water, which is reused for other purposes. If you want to avoid the use of water softeners or ion exchange systems for health or environmental reasons, there are cleaning products and natural remedies (such as vinegar) that will help to address mineral build-up caused by hard water.

One of the primary goals of the Santa Clara Valley Water District is to protect local groundwater resources. In 2003, an investigation performed under the direction of state water officials detected the chemical perchlorate in water wells in Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has regulatory oversight over the cleanup of the groundwater plume, which extends approximately ten miles. The district continues to work with the Regional Board and the local community to ensure the contamination is adequately addressed.

The State Water Resources Control Board's Geo Tracker website contains the most current information on the Olin case, Including monitoring reports, cleanup progress reports, and correspondence.

Leaking underground storage tanks

Oversight responsibility for investigations and clean-up of releases from underground storage tanks was transferred from the Santa Clara Valley Water District to the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health as of July 1, 2004.  DEH files on leaking underground storage tanks have been transferred to the State Water Resources Control Board's GeoTracker database.  For more information, see the County's file review page.

Solvent and toxic release cases

Solvent and toxic release sites in Santa Clara County are primarily regulated by the following Agencies:

• San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Case data available through GeoTracker)
• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (Case data available through EnviroStor)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (Case data for Superfund sites available through EPA)
• Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Case data available through GeoTracker)

The Santa Clara Valley Water District provides peer review to regulatory agencies on hazardous material release cases that pose the greatest threat to groundwater resources.

View historic solvent case files

Some historic solvent case files are available online. Please note, these files are not maintained by the district. For complete case files, including the most recently submitted reports, contact the regulatory agency overseeing the case. Use the search tool at the bottom of this page to view historic files. If you have questions, please submit a Public Records request.

• Document name guide
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Search historic solvent case files