Is IRWD blending water from multiple sources, thereby masking the presence of contaminants such as TCE in its drinking water system?
No. IRWD monitors the quality of water from each of its drinking water sources. When TCE was detected in Well No. 3 in 2007, IRWD decided to turn off the well and utilize other water sources. IRWD is a government agency that follows stringent state and federal water quality regulations to monitor and treat drinking water and abide by Safe Drinking Water Act standards. In California, the California Department of Public Health (DPH) is the oversight agency that issues operating permits for water utilities and ensures that they comply with the applicable standards. DPH has established the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) allowed in drinking water and DPH agrees that IRWD is in full compliance with these and all other standards and regulations. In the case of Well No. 3, blending of the water from this well is allowed by DPH, but IRWD has opted to keep this well out of service.
