Water Quality

_Web_2021 Water Quality Report

2021 Water Quality Report

The 2021 Water Quality Report is available NOW! Learn about the Water Quality Report, click here.

Monitoring and Testing


One of the most important factors in water quality is the source. Santa Rosa's primary water source is the Russian River, which produces high-quality drinking water. Before this water reaches your tap, Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Water Agency takes many steps to ensure its quality. This includes performing regular testing to ensure your water meets - or exceeds - state and federal standards and carefully managing our water distribution system. Santa Rosa Water provides water testing up to the water meter. Beyond the water meter, the plumbing system belongs to the customer. If you are concerned about your home's private plumbing, you can have your drinking water tested by a private laboratory.


Santa Rosa Water takes its responsibility for providing the community safe and reliable drinking water very seriously and ensures that the water supply meets or exceeds all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's and State Water Resources Control Board safe drinking water requirements. The water system is monitored 24/7 and maintained by a team of highly skilled operators, engineers, technical experts, and administrative staff. In addition, the Sonoma County Water Agency actively monitors the watershed for any potential changes in water quality. and has seen no water quality issues associated with the recent wildfires. For more information on drinking water quality in your neighborhood, visit www.sonomacountywater.org/water-quality, or click on the FAQ's below.
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Annual Water Quality Report

Our drinking water routinely meets or exceeds water quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board. Every year, pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act, Santa Rosa Water publishes a Water Quality Report, which lists regulated constituents found in our drinking water.

Find out more about water quality reporting and to view our Annual Water Quality Report.

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Where Our Water Comes From

Santa Rosa's primary source of water is from the Russian River which is naturally filtered through rock, sand and gravel from wells about 100 feet below the river bed.

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Lead & Copper Rule

Santa Rosa's drinking water is very low risk for lead contamination. Santa Rosa's water pipes are typically copper or plastic with few older homes having galvanized iron. Lead service lines are not common and all new household plumbing fixtures are required to be lead free.
Additionally, to reduce the risk of corrosion, the pH of your drinking water is adjusted with sodium hydroxide.

Read More (PDF)

Backflow Prevention

To ensure our drinking water is of the highest quality, the City of Santa Rosa requires backflow preventers to be installed by consumers who have potential hazards on their property which have a greater chance of polluting or contaminating our water in case of backflow. Read More (PDF)

Backflow preventors must be tested once a year in accordance with California State Law. Contact a tester on our list of certified testers to schedule a test.


Water pipe in concrete.