Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on May 30, 2009 at 10:12 am

The utility company includes water purity reports periodically with your utility bill. I assume the data is also available on their web site somewhere.

Those water filter pitchers may change the taste of the water (for people who are very sensitive to taste), but I don't think they have much effect on the healthfulness.

Posted by bru, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on May 30, 2009 at 3:35 pm
bru is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

Sarah,

Do you know where the measure the purity of the water? I'm assuming it is close to the output of our water source. It makes me wonder what happens to the water as it makes its way through the distribution pipes. The pipes in my house are full of crud that I have no idea what it is and someday expect I will have to replace with new piping, but what about all out distribution channel pipes?

Also, how do we know what all the city checks the water for. Do they check for residual antibiotics, or trace medical waste? What about solvents and which ones?

Don't mean to be critical but looking at the city report all things mentioned are of course in order.

And what about the Chloramine that I think they switched over to from Chlorine, or the fluoridation?

Posted by thirsty, a resident of the Ventura neighborhood, on May 31, 2009 at 9:37 pm

The 2008 Water Quality report should be mailed in June's bill.

Here's the Palo Alto 2007 report:

Web Link

"Additional water quality data may be obtained by

calling the City of Palo Alto water system phone number

(650) 496-6967."