Sunday, December 4, 2011

Drinking water may be cloudy Monday (12/5/11) but its safe


Daily Journal, 12/3/11"Drinking water on portions of the Peninsula may temporarily appear cloudy of milky white when drawn from the top beginning Monday, but water officials emphasize it is safe to drink. This temporary cloudy water is caused by changes in the water system distribution resulting in additional air bubbles in the water. 
The water change will only be aesthetic, with water continuing to meet all state and federal regulatory requirements, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The operational changes in the water system are due to routine maintenance of the system’s Foothill Tunnel and seismic upgrades to the San Joaquin Pipeline System in the Central Valley. Instead of receiving water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, 
SFPUC customers will be receiving water exclusively from local reservoirs. The increased rate of treatment of the local reservoir water at the SFPUC’s Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant in the East Bay causes air to be mixed into the water, which in turn makes the water appear cloudy or milky. If the water is allowed to stand for a few minutes, the cloudiness will dissipate as the air bubbles rise to the surface and break apart, according to water officials."  

Posted by Kathy Meeh

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