Get Informed On Drinking Water Basics

• Overview of Surface Water and Groundwater (English / Español)

  • Groundwater 101 (English / Español)

• What to Know About Providers and Systems (English / Español)

  • Water Systems 101 (English / Español)

• Drinking Water Issues and Solutions (English / Español)

  • Flowchart: Addressing Water Shutoff (English / Español)

  • Flowchart: Addressing Lack of Running Water (English / Español)

  • Flowchart: Addressing Possible Water Contamination (English / Español)

  • Consumer Confidence Report 101 (English / Español)

  • Domestic Wells and State Smalls Water Testing (English / Español)

  • Overview of the Water Shut-off Protection Act (English / Español)

  • Unsafe Water Notices (English / Español)

    • Boil Water Notice Template (English / Español)

    • Do Not Drink Notice Template (English / Español)

    • Do Not Use Notice Template (English / Español)

  • Plan and Manage Drought Impacts (English / Español)

    • Protect Your Plants and Yourself During Heat and Drought (English / Español)

  • Consolidations to Achieve Safe, Reliable, and Clean Water (English / Español)

  • Annexations to Achieve Safe, Reliable, and Clean Water (English / Español)

• Agencies and Organizations Involved in Drinking Water (English / Español)

  • State Water Board (English / Español)

  • Local Primacy Agency (English / Español)

Become a Drinking Water Advocate

• Become a Local Water Leader (English / Español)

  • GANAS Principles (English / Español)

  • Create a Community Based Organization (English / Español)

    • Bylaws Template (English / Español)

    • Bylaws (Registered CBO) Template 1 (English / Español)

    • Bylaws (Registered CBO) Template 2 (English / Español)

    • Tax Exemption for Nonprofits: 501(c)(3) Status (English / Español)

  • Get Involved With Your Local Water Board (English / Español)

  • Eligibility to Serve on Your Local Water Board (English / Español)

  • Run In an Local Board Election (English / Español)

• Hold Water Agencies and Providers Accountable (English / Español)

  • Public Comment at Agency Meetings (English / Español)

  • Brown Act: Participating in Governmental Agency and Water Provider Meetings (English / Español)

  • Public Records Act: Right to Access Information (English / Español)

    • Public Records Act Template (English / Español)

  • Public Services for Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (English / Español)

  • Referendum and Initiative: Give Your Direct Input on State Laws and Local Ordinances (English / Español)

  • Prop 218: Water Rate Increases by Governmental Providers (English / Español)

  • Extraordinary Writs: Challenge Governmental Decisions in Court (English / Español)

  • Tort Claims Act: Lawsuits Against Governmental Providers Based on Personal Injury (English / Español)

Water System Legal Requirements and Other References

• Maximum Contaminant Levels (English / Español)

  • State Water Board Primary Contaminants Table (English / Español)

  • Common Drinking Water Contaminants

    • Arsenic (English / Español)

    • Bacteria/E.Coli - Total Coliform (English / Español)

    • Chlorine (English / Español)

    • DBCP (English / Español)

    • Hexavalent Chromium (English / Español)

    • Manganese (English / Español)

    • Nitrate (English / Español)

    • Perchlorate (English / Español)

    • PFAS (English / Español)

    • Uranium (English / Español)

    • TTHM (English / Español)

    • 1,2,3 TCP (English / Español)

• Domestic Well and State Small (English / Español)

  • Water Testing (English / Español)

  • Water Systems Failing (English / Español)

  • Template: Private Express Easement Grant (for water pipeline) (English / Español)

  • Template: Agreement to Start Water Service (English / Español)

  • Plan and Manage Drought Impacts (English / Español)

• Private, Non-Governmental Water Providers (English / Español)

  • Nonprofit Mutual Water Company (English / Español)

    • Sample: Mutual Nonprofit Water Association Rate Schedule (English / Español)

    • Sample: Mutual Nonprofit Water Association Bylaws (English / Español)

• Governmental Providers: Cities, Counties, Special Districts (English / Español)

  • Special Districts: Irrigation Districts (English / Español)

  • Special Districts: Community Services Districts (English / Español)

    • Template: Recruiting Board Members (English / Español)

    • Template: Adopting & Amending Policies (English / Español)

    • Template: Ethical Conduct Agreement (English / Español)

    • Template: Ethical Conduct Agreement Part II (English / Español)

  • Special Districts: Public Utility Districts (English / Español)

  • Special Districts: Municipal Services Districts (English / Español)

    • Sample: Water Service Termination (English)

• Public Water Systems (English / Español)

  • Publishing a Consumer Confidence Report (English / Español)

  • Monitoring Contaminants (English / Español)

    • Primary Standards for Inorganic and Organic Chemical Contaminants (English / Español)

      • Nitrate and Nitrite (English / Español)

      • Perchlorate (English / Español)

      • Asbestos (English / Español)

      • Lead and Copper (English / Español)

    • Primary Standards for Bacteria (English / Español)

    • Primary Standards for Radioactive (Radionuclides) Contaminants (English / Español)

    • Secondary Contaminants (English / Español)

  • Treatment Requirements (English / Español)

    • Disinfection Byproducts and Disinfectant Residuals (English / Español)

  • Monitoring Distribution System Water Quality (English / Español)

  • Notice Requirements (English / Español)

  • Declaring Water Shortage Emergencies (English / Español)

  • Keeping Records (English / Español)

  • Exemptions from Maximum Contaminant Levels and Treatment Requirements (English / Español)