Is Santa Clarita Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Whether you recently moved to sunny Santa Clarita or you’re a long-time local, you may be wondering how safe Santa Clarita tap water is—for drinking, cooking, and everything in between. 

While the Santa Clarita water is treated by local water service authorities, contamination is always possible. In this article, we’ll explore some potential unwelcome visitors that could be wreaking havoc on your plumbing equipment or even your health. 

Potential Contaminants in Santa Clarita Drinking Water

Santa Clarita tap water is like the drinking water supply anywhere else—it’s treated to prevent contamination and reduce the total dissolved solids. Nonetheless, contamination accidents are always a possibility. Let’s explore some common contaminants that may or may not be in your local water supply as  well as potential water quality solutions. 

#1 Biological Contaminants

Biological contaminants are some of the most important to monitor. They can impact the physical qualities of your water, including its taste, odor, color, and clarity. They can also significantly impact your health.

There are four major types of biological (also called microbial or microbiological) contaminants:¹

• Viruses – Viruses are small organisms that can make you sick. Some waterborne viruses are particularly nasty. Hepatitis A, norovirus, and adenovirus can all cause acute illness.²
• Bacteria – While not all bacteria are harmful—your body needs numerous bacteria to survive—some are certainly not to be trifled with. One example of a waterborne bacterium that can cause illness is E. coli, which has contaminated California tap water supplies in the past.³
• Parasites – Parasites like Cryptosporidium and Giardia can cause significant health problems, and they’re not uncommon contaminants.⁴ 
• Protozoa – Protozoa, like parasites, can contaminate water supplies, causing illnesses like toxoplasmosis.⁵

Santa Clarita residents who worry about potential biological contaminants may benefit from a reverse osmosis system for their homes, which can provide a consistent purified water source. However, even with reverse osmosis there still is a chance the contaminants remain depending on the contamination level of the water.

#2 Calcium and Magnesium

Hard water is caused by high concentrations of calcium and magnesium in your  water.⁶ You might have hard water if you notice any of the following common signs:

• Water spots or stains on your plumbing fixtures or drinking glasses
• Soap scum buildup in the shower or next to your dish soap dispenser
• A  dry, rough feeling after you wash your hands with soap

Calcium and magnesium can also impact the overall quality and taste of your home tap water.    More importantly, they can also damage both your plumbing fixtures and your overall plumbing system. As calcium and magnesium solids build up in your pipes,   The scale can cause pipe bursts, leaks, and significantly reduced water flow.. 

While the city has strict rules for at-home water treatment equipment, homeowners with hard water should consider the salt free water options Santa Clarita which helps combat scaling and plumbing damage. 

#3 Arsenic

Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance, but it can cause significant health concerns in high concentrations.⁷ There are a few key things to know about potential arsenic contamination:

• Arsenic is a byproduct of many metallurgy processes.
• It’s commonly found in fertilizers, herbicides, and agricultural products.
• It can dissolve out of rock formations in underground aquifers when water levels are low.

Heating and boiling will not remove arsenic—in fact, boiling water can actually increase the concentration of arsenic since evaporation during boiling will reduce water volume. If you’re concerned about potential arsenic contamination in your home water supply, you should consider a whole-home water filtration solution. 

#4 Nitrates

Nitrates, like arsenic, are naturally occurring—in fact, they’re vital in small quantities for human and ecosystem survival.⁸ 

When nitrogen ions bind to water or ozone molecules in a chemical reaction, they can create nitrate and nitrite compounds, which can be dangerous to your health in high concentrations—especially if you’re pregnant. 

There are a few reasons why nitrates might contaminate your water supply:

• The wells that your city uses to extract water from aquifers are poorly placed or constructed. 
• Nitrates can enter the water supply via agricultural or industrial runoff.
• Vulnerabilities in your city’s waste disposal system can result in dangerous human waste leaks, which can introduce nitrates into groundwater. 

Nitrates require very specific water treatment methods. They can’t be removed by boiling, using a mechanical water filter (like activated charcoal products commonly found in water filter pitchers), or chemically disinfecting the water via chlorination. 

Reverse osmosis systems can, however, help eliminate this pesky contaminant from your home’s water supply. 

Rayne Water Conditioning: Providing Santa Clarita with Safe, Delicious Water

While water in Santa Clarita and the surrounding area is treated by local water providers and monitored by regulatory agencies, there’s always a possibility for contamination. In a world where anything can happen, proper equipment and expert advice are readily available to protect the health and safety of your family and your home’s plumbing system.

At Rayne Water Conditioning, we’re passionate about bringing clean water to homes in Santa Clarita and beyond—we’ve been serving California since 1928, and our experts can help homeowners anywhere in the state achieve their water treatment goals. 

Plus, our blog is full of important industry information that can increase consumers’ awareness of common water issues. Is tap water safe to drink in Orange County? Is tap water safe in Bakersfield, CA? You can find the answers to these questions—and numerous others—on our blog.

If you’re ready to take the plunge into clean, healthy, and delicious household tap water, contact us for a free consultation today. 

Sources: 

1.  US Environmental protection Agency. Types of Drinking Water Contaminants. https://www.epa.gov/ccl/types-drinking-water-contaminants 
2. National Library of Medicine. Waterborne Viruses: A Barrier to Safe Drinking Water. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4482390/ 
3.  California Healthline. Fecal bacteria in California’s Waterways Increases with Homeless Crisis. https://californiahealthline.org/news/fecal-bacteria-in-californias-waterways-increases-with-homeless-crisis/ 
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parasites – Giardia. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/index.html 
5. National Library of Medicine. Protozoan Parasites in Drinking Water: A System Approach for Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Developing Countries. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877040/ 
6. US Department of the Interior. Hardness of Water. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/hardness-water#overview 
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arsenic. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/arsenic.html 
8.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nitrate. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/nitrate.html