The requirements for the use of non-potable water provided by the City of Brentwood (City) Wastewater Treatment Plant are regulated by the California Regional Water Quality Board and Brentwood Municipal Code 13.06. Prior to the use of non-potable water within the City, the City requires a permit application and a City issued permit which is submitted to and issued by the Public Works/Operations Division. There is no fee required for this permit.

To apply for a permit to use non-potable water, please complete the application and follow the instructions to submit for review.  Call (925) 516-6000 with any questions.

On occasion, mainly during periods of warm weather, Brentwood can experience unusually large algal blooms in our source water; some consumers may experience some unpleasant taste and/or odor associated with their drinking water - musty, dirty or "earthy".  Some important information and tips to know:

• Algal tastes and odors are purely aesthetic and pose no health risks.  The City continues to meet or exceed all Federal and State Drinking Water Regulations.
• The City of Brentwood employs a number of treatment measures to remove algal tastes and odors; however, if they pass into the treated water distribution system, it may take a few days for them to dissipate.
• Algal tastes and odors are more noticeable in hot water, rather than cold.  To reduce unpleasant taste and odor for drinking, fill a pitcher and chill the water. This practice also conserves water by avoiding running water through the tap until it is cold. Adding lemon helps too.
  • Ice may need to be replaced if made when taste and odors are present.
  • Odor may persist in hot water longer than in cold water.  If this occurs, you may consider flushing your hot water tank.

Groundwater Sustainability Plan
The City of Brentwood is a Groundwater Sustainable Agency located within the East Contra Costa Subbasin and is working with the East Contra Costa Groundwater Sustainability Working Group to complete a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Plan) for the basin. The East Contra Costa Groundwater Subbasin is a medium priority subbasin, as determined by the State, and requires preparation of a Plan under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

• For more information visit on the East Contra Costa Subbasin and Plan
• Check out the new FaceBook page for the East Contra Costa Subbasin Group

The final ECC Subbasin GSP is linked HERE for your review.

For additional SGMA inquiries, to provide more detailed comments, or to be included on the email distribution list, please contact groundwaterinfo@dcd.cccounty.us.

Background
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), effective January 1, 2015, established a framework of priorities and requirements to facilitate sustainable groundwater management throughout the State. The intent of SGMA is for groundwater to be managed by local public agencies and newly-formed Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to ensure a groundwater basin is operated within its sustainable yield through the development and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The East Contra Costa Subbasin (Basin), referred to as San Joaquin Valley-East Contra Costa (5-022.19), is a Medium priority groundwater basin based on the Groundwater Basin Prioritization by the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) and is located in eastern Contra Costa County.

Eight local agencies (including the City of Brentwood) that overlay the Basin entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 9, 2017 to collaborate and develop a single GSP for the Basin. With one exception, each member agency of the Basin has become a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) to be the local agency to manage the Basin within their respective areas. Visit www.eccc-irwm.org/sgma for the complete list of member agencies.

Resource Links
Visit www.eccc-irwm.org/sgma for current news and happenings with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

Learn more about SGMA.

The spots that may appear on glassware after being washed and air-dried are caused by mineral deposits that remain on the glass when the water evaporates. Commercial products are available that allow the water to drain from the glassware more completely. Towel drying glassware will also reduce mineral deposits.

Fluoride is not added to water produced by the City’s groundwater wells or City of Brentwood Water Treatment Plant; however, it is naturally occurring in the groundwater supply and ranges between 0.2 to 0.7 milligrams per liter (“mg/L”). As part of the treatment process, fluoride is added to water that comes from the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant (owned and operated by the Contra Costa Water District) that is supplied to the City, which has a fluoride level of 0.8 mg/L.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) regulates fluoride in drinking water. The maximum level of fluoride deemed acceptable per EPA standards is 4 mg/L. The California Department of Health Services, which specifically regulates the City’s water system, recommends the fluoride levels in drinking water average 1 mg/L with the maximum level being 2 mg/L. For additional information about the City’s water supply and water quality, refer to the Annual Water Quality Report.

Many manufacturers recommend periodic flushing of water heaters to remove sediment that can build up. The sediment can cause discoloration of the water and make the water heater less efficient. Customers sometimes report white particles that clog plumbing fixtures. This may be bits of calcium carbonate scale coming from your water heater. The scaling may be worsened because the water heater thermostat is too high. If the particles are calcium carbonate, you probably need to flush your water heater. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's owner's guide for your water heater.

Calcium and magnesium are the two minerals that typically cause drinking water hardness. If substantial amounts of calcium and/or magnesium are present in your water, the water is said to be hard because making a lather of suds for washing is difficult to do. Water containing little calcium or magnesium is called soft water.

For City-wide hard water averages, see the annual Water Quality Report.

Water hardness varies seasonally and differs throughout the City. It is recommended that residents test their water hardness, using simple kits that can be purchased from many pool supply and hardware stores, to help program the softener for maximum efficiency. Residents wishing to have their water hardness tested by City staff may request this one-time service by submitting a Service Request.

Hard Water Fact Sheet

Usually this pinkish film appears during and after new construction or remodeling activities. The dirt and dust stirred up from the work probably contains Serratia bacteria. Once airborne, the bacteria seek moist environments to grow. These airborne bacteria can come from any number of naturally occurring sources, and the condition can be further aggravated if customers remove the chlorine from their water by way of an activated carbon filter.

While all water utilities are concerned about the quality of the product they are supplying to their customers, they cannot guarantee water quality once it leaves the pressurized distribution system and enters the customer's plumbing system.

Temporary water service for construction is typically provided through a fire hydrant and requires an agreement to use a fire hydrant meter. See Municipal Code 14.01.700 Authorization for temporary water service. For deposit requirements and application, contact Utility Billing at (925) 516-5415. For all other inquires, contact Public Works at (925) 516-6000 or refer to the Public Works Hydrant Meter Use Application & Agreement.

Bacteria growing in sink drains can make hydrogen sulfide gas (“gas”), which smells like rotten eggs. When water runs down the drain, the gas is pushed out where it can be smelled. A cup of household bleach poured down the drain will help kill the bacteria and take care of the smell. Water heaters can also harbor bacteria that cause rotten egg smells. If your sink drain is not the source, check your hot water for rotten egg smells and flush your water heater if necessary.

The City does not oversee, monitor or regulate private water wells. For more information about water wells, visit the website for Contra Costa Health Services or call their main number at (925) 692-2500.

Chloride is a naturally occurring electrolyte found in drinking water sources, can be found in many vegetables and processed foods, and is most widely associated with common table salt. It can be considered harmful to certain freshwater aquatic life in high enough concentrations. To prevent Marsh Creek from experiencing chloride levels high enough to be harmful to aquatic life, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (“RWQCB”) permit imposes a limit on the amount of chloride that can be present in the City’s wastewater treatment plant effluent (known as “recycled water”) that currently discharges into the creek. The City’s recycled water is currently unable to meet the RWQCB chloride limit. The majority of chlorides found in the City’s wastewater come from water softeners that use salt (sodium chloride or potassium chloride) and discharge the brine to the sewer system.

Rebates of $600 or more received in one calendar year may be considered taxable income by the State and/or Federal governments. The City of Brentwood is unable to provide tax advice, and if you have any questions regarding the necessity of reporting these rebates, a tax attorney should be consulted.

There is no difference from an environmental perspective between a sodium-chloride or potassium-chloride based water softener. Following is how water softeners work:

The salt you buy is either sodium-chloride or potassium-chloride. When the salt dissolves in water, it’s chemical bonds separate into individual ions (sodium and chloride or potassium and chloride). The resin in your water softener is soaked in the salt water, and the sodium or potassium ions adsorb onto the resin. As you use water and it passes through the water softener resin, hardness (calcium and magnesium ions) sticks to the resin and displaces the potassium or sodium ions. Thus the water in your house has additional sodium or potassium, and less calcium and magnesium. The leftover chloride from the salt brine is not used in the ion exchange process and is flushed into the sewer.

This is one of the reasons why chloride levels in the wastewater are high. Water softening is possible and does not hurt the environment if the chlorides are recaptured and not discharged to the sewer.

Many residents use water softeners because they feel the water is too “hard.” Water softeners remove naturally occurring minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.) that cause hardness. In self-regenerating water softeners, a salt (sodium chloride or potassium chloride) is used to chemically replace calcium and magnesium with sodium or potassium. This is what causes the water to feel “soft.” The chloride portion of the salt is not used in the mineral replacement process and is discharged to the sewer system as a brine solution. While self-regenerating water softeners are most commonly used, there are more environmentally friendly options available. Speak to your plumber regarding alternatives to a chloride brine-discharging water softener.

Effective October 22, 2015, no person may install a brine discharging self-regenerating water softener. (Municipal Code 13.04.022 Prohibited Activities)

The following vendors in the Brentwood area have stated that they sell water conditioning and softening systems that do not discharge chloride to the sewer system. These systems use a variety of technologies which may reduce water scale, soften the water or both.

The City of Brentwood does not endorse any product, service or vendor. The information below is provided solely as a courtesy to assist the public in researching alternatives to traditional chloride discharging softeners. Other vendors, services and products may also reduce water scale and/or soften the water without discharging chloride into the sewer system.

Please contact the vendors directly for more information:

Aquasana
(866) 662-6885

Cascadian Water PolyHalt® Softeners
(509) 674-4000

Delta Pure Water
(925) 634-6658

Enviro Water Products
(925) 634-0272

FilterSmart
(866) 455-9989

Flow Pro Plumbing
(925) 436-1717

Ising's Culligan Water
(209) 466-2501 or 800-20 WATER

Kinetico
(800) 990-9191

LifeSource
(888) 994-5032

NaturalSof
(844) 966-7225

Pelican Water Systems
(877) 842-1635

Pure Flo
(925) 516-7000

Service Pros Plumbing
(925) 753-5600

Success Water
(800) 287-8798

Nuvo H2O
(877) 688-6426