[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS - Water Quality-11/3/08

Harder water heads to local taps

Residents may find spotty glasses and need more soap because of harder water, which is being distributed because of a statewide water shortage.

Orange County Register – 11/2/08

By SARAH TULLY

 

Bathers may need more soap. Spots may stick to glasses. And cars may look a little filmy after being washed.

That's because Orange County's water is harder these days.

 

For two weeks, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has sent only Colorado River water to Orange County. Because of the statewide shortage, the district for now has stopped allocating water that it gets from the State Water Project to local areas.

 

The state water from Northern California usually is blended with Colorado River water and sent to the Diemer Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda, which processes 400 million gallons of water daily. The water then is distributed to local cities and districts, most of which further mix it with other sources and making the water softer.

As a precaution on Oct. 19, the Metropolitan Water District began reserving the state water for the other areas of Southern California that rely solely on that source. That need became even greater this week when the state announced that it will initially supply just 15 percent of what is normally needed for the coming year.

"It's certainly not helping matters. In order to adjust that blend of water, we're going to need to access to more water from the state project," said Bob Muir, Metropolitan Water District spokesman.

 

Officials at some local agencies said they've received few or no comments from residents about the water quality.

 

The hardness of water – or the amount of dissolved solids – varies dramatically from area to area, as most cities or districts blend their water with groundwater or other sources.

 

None of Villa Park-based Serrano Water District's water and just 5 percent of the water at the Costa Mesa-based Mesa Consolidated Water District comes from MWD. On the high end, all MWD water goes through Emerald Bay Services and Laguna Beach County Water districts, which serve Laguna Beach.

 

The harder water is concentrated in south Orange County, said Darcy Burke, spokeswoman for Municipal Water District of Orange County.

 

"They are used to the higher level of hardness in the water because we're not blending it with groundwater," said Christopher Regan, Laguna Beach district's assistant general manager.

 

One Anaheim resident, who lives in an area that receives more MWD water, called to complain about the taste, said Margie Otto, Anaheim Public Utilities spokeswoman.

 

La Palma officials posted a notice on the city Web site, warning that residents may find spotty glasses and need to use more soap. Public Works Director Jeff Moneda said he received no major complaints as of early last week.#

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-district-county-2214407-state-need