Frequently Asked Questions
General
The water bill is calculated by adding the service charge, which is based on the meter size, to the water usage, which is based on the total units of water used multiplied by the current usage rate. Current District rates are based on the 2015 Business Plan and Water Rate Study and the 2016 Business Plan Update and 2017 Water Rate Adjustment.
The current state law, as modified by Proposition 218, prohibits us from collecting from any customer more than the amount required to provide water service. By providing a reduced rate other ratepayers would subsidize the low “reduced rate” ratepayers. Those paying the subsidy would be paying in excess of the cost of service to their parcel, which is in violation of Prop. 218. This prevents CWD from offering a low-income rate program or Customer Assistance Program (CAP).
Notify the District office at (916) 483-2452 prior to the close of escrow or vacating the property.
Complete the online New Customer Account Application Form.
Water Quality
CWD does not add fluoride to its water; however, fluoride occurs naturally in CWD's water. CWD's average fluoride level is 0.11 (mg/L). For additional information on your needs for fluoride in preventing tooth decay, please contact your family dentist.
The District's water supply during the winter months is surface water which is considered soft water. The hardness increases to mildly hard during the months of May - October when the demand increases and the water supply is a combination of surface and ground waters. During the past year, CWD's water hardness averaged 77 ppb for groundwater and 26 ppb for surface water. Hard water may cause ice cubes to be cloudy and leave water spots on glasses. Hardness is naturally occurring in water, generally from magnesium and calcium, which are both important to good health.
The CWD water pressure ranges between 40 to 85 psi. The system average is 60 psi.
CWD's pH target is 8.2 with a range of 8.0 to 8.4.
Yes! CWD water is tested for more than 200 constituents on a daily, weekly, monthly, and/or annual basis. Water samples are subject to the most up-to-date testing methods and then are re-tested to verify accuracy. Samples are then measured against state and federal standards to ensure quality.
Click here to view the Annual Water Quality and CCR Reports.
Thank you to the District customers that took the time to complete the survey. A total of 36% of our customers responded. The goal of the survey was to determine if the District's customers were in favor of adding fluoride to the CWD drinking water supply and if in favor of fluoridation would customers be willing to pay an additional amount on their water bill. In addition, the survey will help staff determine how much public education we may need in the future. The final results of the survey are listed in the table below:
| For Fluoridation (35%) | Against Fluoridation (64%) | For Fluoridation and willing to pay for it | For Fluoridation but not willing to pay for it | Undecided (1%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,379 | 2,529 | 1,272 | 90 | 15 |