What's In Your Drinking Water?

If you're a rate payer for Sweetwater Authority, you recently received a postcard in the mail with a link to their 2025 Water Quality Report.

"The State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) requires community water systems to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report. This report provides information on water quality and compliance with federal and state standards. Sweetwater Authority's 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report offers a snapshot of the quality of your local water supply, including its sources, contents, and how it meets strict regulations. In 2025, water delivered by Sweetwater Authority met all current primary state and federal health standards."—Sweetwater Authority

I found their tagline "Providing safe and reliable water at the lowest rates in San Diego County" quite interesting.

At their June board meeting, a proposal outlined a 0% rate revenue increase for 2026-2027, but with potential 5% increases for the subsequent four years.

And looking at what's in the water, I'm not sure how safe it really is. I would recommend getting some type of purification system on your drinking water and shower water. People often are only concerned about their drinking water but your skin is considered your largest organ and shower water goes directly through your pores.

Our water comes out of the Sweetwater Reservoir and is then treated at the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant.

The following images "interpret your water quality." Click on images to enlarge. Be sure to read the "typical source of contaminant" on the right side of the chart. That's your first indication that your water is fouled.

The following chart shows the unregulated contaminants, things they could avoid telling you about but in the effort to cover their bottoms, it's best to clue you in on these.

PFAS Notification is broken down on this chart. This has been a topic of major concern as PFAS are considered "forever chemicals" and don't break down. SWA has been bringing in water from other sources to try and get the abnormally high numbers down to a more reasonable ratio by mixing waters.

Radon, Fluoride and Cryptosporidium—the hidden pollutants in your drinking and usage water. None of these are good for you . . . any way or anyhow.

Radon is a known human carcinogen and may cause an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Fluoride is applauded as a protection again tooth decay but the jury's still out on that one. Some sources state that it may actually decay teeth and bones, damage cognitive function and lower IQ with prolonged use. You can buy fluoridated toothpaste so why is it necessary in your water? And if fluoride is such a "wonder product", why does your tooth paste tube carry a warning of "Do not swallow"?

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that will cause cryptosporidiosis, a gastrointestinal illness characterized by watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration. According to the Cleveland Clinic, individuals with severely compromised immune systems (such as those undergoing cancer treatments), may struggle to clear the parasite, leading to an infection that persists indefinitely.

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