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WATER QUALITYFor general water quality information, go here.
How safe is PID water to drink? The water PID serves its customers meets the highest standards available. Source water is developed and stored in two reservoirs located in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The quality of this reservoir water is excellent as the District limits the type of recreational activities at each reservoir. The District operates a 22.8 million gallon a day, state of the art treatment plant. Water quality is monitored continuously from the time it enters the reservoir until it flows from the customers tap. Back to Top Does PID water meet state standards? The water served to all customers of the Paradise Irrigation District meets or exceeds all State of California water quality standards. For detailed information regarding the standards please view the current Annual Water Quality Report. Back to Top Does PID water contain fluoride? No, the district has never treated its water with Fluoride. The California Department of Health Services requires systems having over 10,000 service connections to provide Fluoridation as a part of their treatment, if funding is available. Back to Top Why does PID put chlorine in the water? Chlorine has been used to disinfect many water supplies throughout the United States since the early 1900's. Chlorine not only destroys many disease causing organisms prior to filtration but it also provides protection against contamination throughout the distribution system by maintaining an active residual. Back to Top How often does PID test the water? The district tests the water for more than a hundred different constituents. Testing frequency varies for different substances. Turbidity at the treatment plant is monitored continuously, while radioactivity is tested only once every 4 years. Bacteriological testing is conducted weekly and consists of 40 samples per month. All tests are regulated and monitored by the California Department of Health Services. For detailed test information please view the Annual Water Quality Report. Back to Top What is Cryptosporidiosis, and can I get it from PID water?Cryptosporidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. The disease can be spread by: drinking contaminated water; swallowing water while swimming; contact with the stool of an infected animal or person; eating contaminated undercooked foods; and hand-to-mouth transfer from contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include: watery diarrhea, headache, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, or no symptoms at all. These symptoms may lead to weight loss and dehydration. There is no specific treatment for Cryptosporidiosis, however, for people with a normal immune system the disease is short term. The district's water treatment plant was designed to remove and inactivate cysts such as the Cryptosporidium. In addition to plant design, operational procedures provide the highest quality water obtainable. In 1998 the district received an award from the California Department of Health Services for participation in the state sponsored crypto-action plan. This plan requires filtered water turbidity levels of .10 ntu or less, thus providing protection against water born Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks. The districts annual filtered water turbidity is .030 ntu.
Back to Top What is Giardia, and can I get it from PID water?Giardiasis is an intestinal disease caused by Giardia lamblia and related organisms. The parasites are invisible to the naked eye, and not uncommon to dogs. The disease can be spread by: drinking contaminated water; swallowing water while swimming; contact with the stool of an infected animal or person; eating contaminated undercooked foods; and hand-to-mouth transfer from contaminated surfaces. Symptoms may include: chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, fatigue, and loss of weight. Treatment by a physician is necessary to kill the organism. It will not go away on its own. The same safeguards and procedures at the water treatment plant are in place to protect against Giardia as well as other pathogens.
Back to Top How often does PID flush its water lines? The district conducts an annual flushing program of the water mains and storage tanks, generally this procedure takes approximately 3 weeks to completion. Back to Top Why is it necessary to flush district mains? Water mains should be flushed annually to remove sediment and prevent unwanted slime growth in dead end mains. Flushing programs also provide an opportunity to test for fire flows throughout the distribution system. Back to Top Who do I contact if I have a taste or odor problem? The district should be informed of all water quality problems. District personnel are trained and certified to handle water quality complaints. It is the District's policy to respond to and log all water quality related complaints immediately. We can be contacted at (530)877-4971. Back to Top Who do I call to have my water tested for lead or other substance? Contact the District. We may be able to share information regarding sample results in your area. If additional testing is desired the district can provide a list of laboratories capable of performing the specific test requested. Back to Top Would the public be notified if PID water was found to be unsafe? The district is required by law to treat, test, monitor, and deliver safe potable water to all its customers. If at any time the water supply is found to be non-potable, the district must notify the California Department of Health Services Office of Drinking Water and its customers. Back to Top The PID owns and operates two impoundment reservoirs, Paradise Lake and Magalia Reservoir. These reservoirs rely on rainfall to fill each year. Total combined capacity is 12,293 acre feet. The district also operates an emergency ground water source that produces 450 GPM. Back to Top Methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE) is a chemical that is added to gasoline to reduce airborne pollutants in automobile exhaust. Unfortunately, significant amounts of MTBE have appeared in water supplies across the nation. Recent California State legislation calls for a total ban of MTBE as a gasoline additive by 2001. Back to Top Yes. The district has tested for MTBE. Test results show none detected. See Annual Water Quality Report. Back to Top |
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