Consumer Confidence Reports

Based on federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), West Kern Water tests for over 90 contaminants, plus additional state-specific contaminants as California often enforces stricter standards.  If any regulatory level is exceeded, customers must be notified.

How do I know what’s in MY home water?

The annual water quality report provides the required test results for your community’s water supply. We cannot test water at every individual home. While water quality at household taps is generally consistent, variations can occur due to factors such as corrosion in household plumbing. If desired, you may have your water tested at your own expense by a certified independent drinking water laboratory.  

My water is red or brown. What is this?

There is usually one of three reasons for this:

1. Decaying vegetation or leaves can cause water to be a tea color
2. Pipes in the street, home, or your hot water tank may be rusting. Consult a licensed plumber or contact West Kern Water to help troubleshoot the problem.
3. If the discolored water is coming only from the hot water tap, the source is likely your water heater or home plumbing. If the problem flows from both hot and cold water taps, you can contact the District to investigate.

Iron may dissolve in your water. When the dissolved iron comes in contact with air, it changes to a reddish color.

Why does my water taste or smell strange?

There may be many reasons for unusual taste and odor. The three most common causes are:

1. Chlorine added to the water to kill harmful organisms can also cause it to taste or smell differently. If there is a lot of chlorine, the water might have a “swimming pool” smell. Small amounts of chlorine in the water are harmless.
2. A rotten-egg odor can come from an inorganic compound called hydrogen sulfide, when dissolved in water. Usually this comes from groundwater (well water) with sulfur compounds.
3. Algae in storage reservoirs and rivers can produce substances with unpleasant odors.

Many of the substances that cause bad taste or odor in drinking water will not make you sick. However, if you detect an unusual odor or taste, contact us.

My water is dirty from time to time and then clears up. What’s going on?

Street maintenance or use of fire hydrants can disturb the pipe system. This is usually temporary. Don’t run the clothes washer or dishwasher until it clears. You may need to run the bathtub faucet or a faucet outside to clear out the problem. 

Why is my water milky white?

Many times, this is caused by air dissolved in the water. Fill a glass and let it sit on your counter. See if the cloudiness disappears after a few minutes.

Do I need a home water softener?

Water softness is a personal preference, although very hard water can require more soap for washing, increasing your cost to wash clothes and dishes. To decide if you should purchase a water softener, check the hardness of the community water supply shown in the annual water quality report. The amount may vary by season.

Hardness is the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water and is expressed as units of calcium carbonate. The units are usually expressed in mg/L (ppm). The table below shows the generally accepted hardness classification scale.

For example, West Kern’s current hardness ranges from a minimum of 71 mg/L to a maximum of 190 mg/L, with the average at 113 mg/L. In this case the water would be Moderately Hard to Hard.

Most people don’t want to soften water that is already in the soft range. Very hard water almost always needs to be softened. People with water in the hard or moderately hard classifications differ in their opinions about needing a water softener.

Be aware that a water softener does not lower the hardness to 0. Also, traditional water softeners replace the calcium that is removed with sodium. If you don’t want sodium in your water, you may need another type of softener.

How do I know if a home water-treatment device works?

There are many types of home treatment devices whose manufacturers make varying claims. You can increase your chances of getting a quality home water-treatment device by purchasing one that has been independently tested by an organization that certifies the device. The most widely accepted certificate is the NSF seal. If a device is certified, the seal is on the box. You can also check the manufacturer’s Web site for information on testing and certification.

Information provided by American Water Works Association 2004, catalog no. 70005.