Community Water System Connection Project

The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is conducting a feasibility study to determine whether Clear Lake area residents not connected to a public water system would like to be connected to Golden State Water Company’s water system. The state will survey approximately 360 homes with self-supplied water systems that need safe drinking water. The self-supplied homes on the northeastern side of Clear Lake draw water directly from the lake or from private groundwater wells.  

The main concern associated with the self-supplied water systems used by these residents (non-customers) is that home treatment systems are not effectively removing cyanotoxins. Cyanotoxins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that can make people and animals sick.  

Questions? Since this is a California State Water Resources Control Board project, questions should be directed to Kiera Brown, the state’s consultant/project manager, at Kiera.Brown@ghd.com or call 1.707.267.2270.  

FAQ

Are there health risks associated with drinking untreated or inadequately treated lake or groundwater? 

Risks from skin contact with cyanotoxins include respiratory distress, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure through drinking cyanotoxins can cause serious liver and kidney damage.  Water quality sampling by Tracking California’s Cal-WATCH found that 71% of homes along Clear Lake with lake water intakes not served by Golden State Water have cyanotoxins in their tap water.   

Which residents have been invited to participate in the program? 

The state program is surveying approximately 290 homes (Northern Area of Interest) on the Sulphur Bank Point/Windflower Point area that draw water from Clear Lake and approximately 70 homes (Eastern Area of Interest) within the City of Clearlake with private groundwater wells. See the map.   

What are the benefits of connecting to a public water system?   

The benefits of connecting to a public water system include advanced water treatment to reliably remove cyanotoxins and other contaminants, regular water testing, higher water pressure, fire protection (fire hydrants), and drought resiliency.   

Who is Golden State Water Company? 

Golden State Water serves over 2,100 customers in the Clearlake Customer Service Area. The water delivered to customers in the Clearlake System is surface water from Clear Lake, which is treated at Golden State Water’s Sonoma Water Treatment Plant to ensure compliance with all state and federal drinking water standards. To ensure premium water quality and reliability, Golden State Water has invested nearly $6 million in Clearlake’s water infrastructure projects over the past five years. Click here to learn more.  

Why has Golden State Water Company’s water system been identified as a potential connection for residents with self-supplied water systems? 

Golden State Water is the largest nearby public water system and is interested in consolidating these self-supplied systems, pending community interest and financial support from the State of California.  

Is the project being financed by Golden State Water customers? 

The feasibility study is financed by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), not Golden State Water Company. The project does not impact existing rates or services for GSWC customers.