San Jose natives might be wondering if it is safe to drink water right from their faucet. Generally, it is perfectly safe to drink tap water in San Jose in 2022.
It is important to remember that a water filter and water softener will maximize the long-term safety of consuming the tap water by removing harmful metals and minerals.
San Jose Water Quality Report: What’s In The Water?
Several different contaminants and minerals are present in San Jose’s drinking water, including the following substances:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Fluoride
- Chloramine
- Lead
- Arsenic
Of course, some of these substances might give San Jose natives pause about drinking tap water in 2022. Lead, in particular, can be rather dangerous for humans to consume in high amounts.
Water treatment centers do not add lead to water. When moving through lead pipes to get from the treatment plant to residential areas, the water picks up some of the lead in the pipes.
To alleviate concern about the presence of lead in San Jose’s drinking water, consider investing in a water filtration system. Water filters do an excellent job of filtering harmful substances out of the water, lead included.
Arsenic occurs naturally in drinking water, but in high amounts, the heavy metal can lead to toxic effects on the human body, such as cancer.
San Jose’s arsenic level does not exceed the EPA’s requirements, but homes with children should get a water filtration system that removes arsenic.
Other substances are in the tap water intentionally. For example, fluoride is present in the drinking water of several San Jose neighborhood to maintain dental health.
It is true that most drinking water already contains Fluoride, but most parts of San Jose add additional fluoride to prevent tooth decay.
Is The Tap Water Hard or Soft?
San Jose tap water is about as hard as water can get. This means the water contains high amounts of both calcium and magnesium.
Soft water, on the other hand, does not contain these amounts of calcium and magnesium salts. In excessive amounts, these substances can wreak havoc on both the body and the home.
Hard water tends to create soap scum rather than bubbling up, which means that more soap is necessary with hard water. This is not economically sustainable, nor is it environmentally sustainable.
Hard water can also wear down everyday appliances in the home, as well as clothing. Beyond home and plumbing fixtures, though, hard water can also dry out a person’s hair and skin.
San Jose residents who are concerned about the effects of hard tap water on their homes should look into getting a water softener. This will remove calcium, magnesium, and other potentially harmful minerals from a home’s tap water.
Where San Jose Gets Its Water From
Valley Water is the main source of treated tap water for the San Jose Municipal Water System, though the source can sometimes vary depending on a home’s location in the city.
There are a few natural sources where Valley Water gets its surface water. The South Bay Aqueduct, Lake Del Valle, the San Luis Resevoir, the Dyer Resevoir, and Anderson and Calero reservoirs.
After sourcing water from these various locations, Valley Water treats the water. When it is free from infections, it moves through the lead pipes and into the city’s homes and businesses.
Those in North San Jose might be getting their water from the Alameda Watershed. The water from this massive watershed then makes its way to the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant.
How Tap Water is Treated in San Jose
In San Jose, chloramine is the primary method of treating tap water. This removes bacteria and microbes from the water that may otherwise cause harm to people, pets, and the environment.
Rather than just using chlorine by itself, San Jose water treatment plants use a mix between chlorine and ammonia. This combination of chemicals, called Chloramine, disinfects water more effectively than plain chlorine or ammonia.
Some residents who are particularly attuned to the taste and smell of chlorine might take notice of the presence of the chemical when they drink it, but the taste is not overwhelming.
Chloramine is generally harmless to human beings, but it is important to be cautious with various uses of the tap water that contains it. For example, kidney dialysis machines and aquariums cannot legally use tap water with Chloramine for health and environmental purposes.
Do They Have The Cleanest Tap Water?
San Jose may not be known for having the cleanest tap water in the United States, but it is still clean and safe to drink. Harmful bacteria and microbes are long gone from the water’s initial treatment with Chloramine.
There should be no issues with water contamination, and as long as San Jose residents take care to use a water filter before consuming their tap water in 2022, heavy metals should not be an outstanding issue, either.
Water filtration will remove heavy metals and other harmful substances that the water picks while traveling through the pipes. Water softeners will remove excessive amounts of calcium and magnesium salts in water.
Do People Drink Tap Water in San Jose?
San Jose residents regularly drink the city’s tap water and they see no adverse side effects from doing so.
However, most people use a water filtration system to remove contaminants and ensure that their water is of the highest possible quality.
There is no reason to worry about drinking tap water in San Jose. The water meets all of the requirements for what the Environmental Protection Agency considers to be safe drinking water, and residents of the city respond by drinking it daily.
