Frequently Asked Questions

If you need assistance, please call us at 760-391-9600 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or email your question to us at CustomerService@cvwd.org.

Call CVWD at 760-391-9600 so that we can review your bill with you.

Here is an explanation of some common CVWD charges you may see on your tax bill. How to Read Your Tax Bill (PDF)

When there is more than 1 user on a meter, each has a designated delivery point from which they irrigate. A short delivery is the closest acreage next to the meter. The district’s responsibility is 3 feet downstream of the short delivery valve. An intermediate delivery is located off of the long delivery and is used to irrigate the next acreage downstream of the meter. The district’s responsibility is also only 3 feet downstream of the intermediate valve. A long delivery is used to irrigate the furthest acreage to the south of the meter. The district’s responsibility is up to 1,300 feet from the long delivery valve. Any delivery lines or field valves past the points mentioned above will be the user’s responsibility.

An emergency off is when a user calls in and needs their water turned off immediately. Once the district is notified that an emergency off has been requested, a zanjero will promptly make his way to the meter and turn it off.

CVWD has served as a steward of the Coachella Valley’s groundwater resources for more than 100 years. Ensuring that a reliable supply of water is available for the Valley’s future families and businesses is a cornerstone of the CVWD’s mission to the communities it serves.

The Replenishment Assessment Charge, or RAC, is a key component of the Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update and Mission Creek Water Management Plan Update, blueprints for ensuring there is a reliable and sustainable long-term supply of high quality water for the Coachella Valley. The RAC generates revenue from large groundwater producers, such as water agencies, golf courses, and agriculture to fund the replenishment of groundwater with imported water. The RAC also funds important projects and programs to protect and conserve groundwater supplies and reduce groundwater pumping. This includes the expansion of the canal water delivery system to reduce or eliminate groundwater pumping for non-potable uses like agricultural, golf course, and landscape irrigation.

For many years, the amount of water used from the aquifer has exceeded the natural replenishment of the aquifer. This imbalance caused an “overdraft” of the Coachella Valley groundwater basin. Overdrafting a groundwater basin causes water levels to drop and can have serious consequences, including increased pumping costs for all water users, land subsidence and water quality issues. The 2022 Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update and Mission Creek Water Management Plan Update guide CVWD in its efforts to eliminate overdraft and comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Replenishing the aquifer with imported water is a critical means for achieving this.

RAC payers are those entities that use a well or multiple wells that collectively pump more than 25 acre-feet of water from the aquifer in any year. This is the equivalent of 8,146,275 gallons of water in any year.

Examples of RAC payers include public water system purveyors including the Coachella Valley Water District, and entities that own, lease or operate farms, nurseries, golf courses or large irrigated areas (about 5 acres) where their wells produce more than 25 acre-feet of groundwater in any year.

If you don’t have a private well, or you pump 25-acre feet or less of water from the aquifer in a year, you don’t pay the RAC. You would be required to pay the RAC in the future if you begin to use a well or other facility to produce that much water.

Within the service boundaries of CVWD there are three Areas of Benefit where RACs are imposed. The district sets a different rate for each Area of Benefit based on the costs of the specific replenishment projects and programs provided in each area.

The RAC is charged on a per acre-foot of pumped groundwater basis. The current RACs in each Area of Benefit are: 

• Mission Creek Subbasin Area of Benefit = $135.52/acre-foot 
• West Whitewater River Subbasin Area of Benefit = $165.37/acre-foot
• East Whitewater River Subbasin Area of Benefit = $72.27/acre-foot

CVWD strives to control costs and make prudent investments to provide the highest level of service and value to our customers. To do so, CVWD maintains a long-range financial plan that is updated on a regular basis to capture all of its costs, identify opportunities for reducing cost increases, and ensure that sufficient revenues are available to provide groundwater replenishment services. The goal is to develop rates that treat customers fairly, reflect the proportional costs of service, and maintain financial stability.

RAC increases reflect rising costs to CVWD of replenishing the aquifer with imported water supplies, including imported water costs and operational and maintenance costs for groundwater replenishment facilities. RAC increases also cover the costs of capital investments for infrastructure that are necessary to replenish the basin and implement source substitution programs that reduce groundwater pumping. In the West Whitewater River Subbasin AOB, this includes the construction of Phase 2 of the Palm Desert Groundwater Replenishment Facility that will allow CVWD to increase the use of Canal water for replenishment. In the East Whitewater River Subbasin AOB, this includes source substitution through a direct connection to the Mid Valley Pipeline and the Oasis In-Lieu Project.

As of now, there are no restrictions on the what days you are allowed to water.

As of now, there are no restrictions on the length of time you may run your sprinklers, but we encourage you to use our Drought Watering Guide.

1. The link to the new customer payment portal;
2. Your user name (which will be the e-mail address you use to log in to Click2Gov or your e-bill notification e-mail address ); and
3. A temporary, one-time use password.

Once logged in with the temporary password, you will need to update your password. The CVWD account(s) currently associated with your Click2Gov profile will be in your Paymentus profile, along with AutoPay information, and paperless billing options.  For security purposes, customers will be required to enter any payment methods stored in the wallet feature.

1. AutoPay
2. Pay by text
3. Pay by phone
4. Stored Payments methods
5. Paperless billing via email and text
6. Copies of bills and payment history
7. One time payments without logging in

CVWD is pleased to offer our customers an easier way to pay bills and manage your account as part of our ongoing efforts to provide excellent customer service. Many customers have expressed a desire for a new payment portal that includes a more user friendly format, online copies of bills, cleaner e-bill messages, and improved e-billing options. This new service meets those needs.

For additional information, or if you have any questions, please e-mail CustomerService@cvwd.org or call our Customer Service Department at (760) 391-9600 Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, does not present a threat to the safety of your drinking water. COVID-19 is transmitted person-to-person, not through water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CVWD delivers naturally filtered groundwater to its customers from deep-water wells installed (drilled) in local aquifers. Chlorine used to kill viruses, including coronaviruses, as well as bacteria and other pathogens is added to your tap water as a precautionary disinfectant. 

CVWD’s staff continuously monitors the public water systems and they collect samples that are tested in CVWD’s state-certified laboratory to ensure tap water meets or surpasses all state and federal drinking water regulations.

CVWD maintains an extensive system of reservoirs, water treatment plants and pipelines to deliver safe and reliable water service to customers. The system includes multiple layers of redundancy to ensure continued deliveries, even during a disruption.

CVWD has an Emergency Response Team and existing protocols for situations such as a pandemic. A task force is also meeting regularly to discuss preparedness and protocol tactics. 

In addition, CVWD has taken several steps to protect the health of its employees by minimizing potential exposure to avoid widespread impacts to our workforce. 

Lastly, CVWD’s task force has ensured it has the necessary backup equipment, essential supplies and treatment chemicals in the event of disruptions to the supply chain for these items. 

We want to reassure you that your tap water is both safe to drink and reliable. There is no reason to believe that COVID-19 will have any impact on the local water supply.

One of the primary ways to minimize the spread of this disease is to practice social distancing and reduce unnecessary outings. The public is encouraged to stay home, and avoid panic shopping and stockpiling bottled water. CVWD’s tap water remains high quality and available. 

Drinking water provided by CVWD meets all federal and state water quality standards. Water filters may change the taste of tap water, but they are not necessary.

Be cautious of any salesperson who claims that CVWD sent him or her to test your water. CVWD would never send a salesperson to your home. Also be wary of those who test your water and claim that your water quality is unsafe. 

CVWD offices are closed to the public following public health recommendations but we are still working to support our customers online and by phone.

We encourage our customers to manage their  accounts online as most service-related needs can be requested online or by calling (760) 391-9600.  We also ask anyone doing business with the CVWD to do so by telephone, email, or online at www.cvwd.org.

CVWD allocates a reasonable amount of water based on each customer’s needs and does not fine customers for water use.  

Residential water budgets include an indoor budget and an outdoor budget. The monthly indoor water budget (tier 1) for CVWD customers is about 6,000 gallons of water per household, which is equal to 50 gallons of water per person, per day for a family of four. 

Customers can request a larger indoor water budget if more people live in your home by calling (760) 391-9600. 

Outdoor water budgets (tier 2) are calculated individually for all residential and large landscape customers. 

Learn more about CVWD rates. 

Here are some tips on how to be more water efficient inside and outside your home. 

Indoors

• Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. 
• Check your faucets and toilets for leaks.
• Reduce your faucets’ water flow in half by installing inexpensive aerators. Purchase aerators at your local hardware store. You can also conserve water by reducing the water pressure. Do this by turning down the valve under the sink that supplies water to the faucet.
• Shorten your shower by a few minutes or install a water-efficient shower head.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator rather than under running water. 
• Replace appliances and fixtures with water-efficient models.

Outdoors 

• Adjust your sprinklers with the seasons. Use our watering guide for recommended irrigation times.Use a broom to clean patios, walk ways and driveways instead of the garden hose according to state law. A typical 5/8" garden hose can use 12 to 15 gallons a minute.
• Keep your sprinklers off after a good rainstorm for about 2-3 days according to state law.
• Apply water in the early morning or evening hours to minimize loss through evaporation, especially when temperatures are high. But every rule has an exception: you may need to split up your watering to multiple times throughout the day if your yard has fast drainage or sandy soil for better absorption.
• Turn off your sprinklers on windy days to avoid water waste. Winds blow water away from plants and cause it to evaporate more rapidly. 
• Pull out weeds before they steal valuable moisture and nutrients that should go to your plants. 
• Use mulch to help plants retain water. It improves your water efficiency by insulating the soil, improving soil structure, curtailing weed growth, preventing soil crusting and reducing the need for cultivation. Mulches include organic matter such as ground bark, redwood sawdust and compost. 
• Set your lawn mower to a higher setting; longer grass keeps the soil moist.

CDC: “The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.” Learn more at www.cdc.gov

La nueva enfermedad coronavirus, COVID-19, no representa una amenaza a la seguridad del agua para beber. Según los Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades, COVID-19 se transmite de persona a persona, no por medio del agua.

CVWD entrega a sus clientes agua subterránea filtrada de forma natural que proviene de pozos profundos instalados (perforados) en acuíferos locales. Como medida preventiva desinfectante al agua potable se le agrega cloro, que se utiliza para matar virus incluyendo el coronavirus al igual que bacteria y otros patógenos.

Empleados de CVWD continuamente monitorizan los sistemas de agua públicos y recogen muestras que son analizadas en el laboratorio de CVWD, el cual está certificado por el estado, para asegurar que el agua del grifo cumpla o supere todas las normas estales y federales del agua potable.

Para proveer el servicio de agua seguro y fiable a sus clientes, CVWD mantiene un extenso sistema de reservorios, plantas de tratamiento de agua, y tuberías. El sistema incluye múltiples capas de redundancia para asegurar la continua entrega, incluso durante una interrupción.

CVWD cuenta con un equipo de respuesta de emergencia y existentes protocolos para situaciones tal como lo es una pandemia. Un grupo de trabajo especial también se reúne periódicamente para analizar el estado de preparación y tácticas de protocolo.

Además, CVWD ha tomado varias medidas para proteger la salud de sus empleados reduciendo la posible exposición al minino para evitar repercusiones generalizadas a nuestra fuerza laboral.

Por último, el grupo de trabajo especial se ha cerciorado que exista el equipo de respaldo, suministros esenciales, y químicos para tratamiento en el evento de una interrupción en la cadena de suministros de estos artículos.

Queremos asegurarle que el agua del grifo es segura para beber y fiable. No hay razón alguna para creer que COVID-19 tendrá algún impacto en el suministro del agua local.

Una de las principales maneras para minimizar la propagación de esta enfermedad es la práctica del distanciamiento social y reducir las salidas innecesarias. Se le anima al público que permanezca en casa, y evite la compra por pánico y el almacenamiento de agua embotellada. El agua potable de CVWD continúa siendo de alta calidad y disponible.

El agua para beber que CVWD provee cumple con todas la normas federales y estatales de calidad del agua. Los filtros pueden cambiar el sabor del agua del grifo, pero no son necesarios.

Tenga cuidado con cualquier vendedor(a) que pretenda decir que fue enviado por CVWD para analizar su agua. CVWD nunca enviará un vendedor a su hogar. También sea cauteloso con aquellos que analicen su agua y afirmen que la calidad del agua no es segura.

Las oficinas de CVWD están cerradas al público por las recomendaciones de salud pública, pero continuamos trabajando para servir a nuestros clientes por internet y por teléfono.

Le urgimos a los clientes a que manejen sus cuentas en nuestro sitio web ya que la mayoría de las necesidades de servicio pueden llevarse a cabo en línea o llamando al (760) 391-9600. También le pedimos todos aquellos que estén en negocios con CVWD que lo hagan por teléfono, correo electrónico o en línea en www.cvwd.org.

CVWD asigna una cantidad razonable de agua que se basa en la necesidad de cada uno de los clientes, y no multa a los clientes por el uso del agua.

Los presupuestos del agua residenciales incluyen un presupuesto para dentro de la casa, y un presupuesto para afuera de la casa. El presupuesto mensual para dentro de la casa (Tarifa 1) para los clientes de CVWD es aproximadamente 6,000 galones de agua por vivienda, lo que equivale a 50 galones de agua por persona; por día, para una familia de cuatro.

Si más de cuatro personas viven en su vivienda, los clientes pueden pedir un mayor presupuesto para dentro de la casa. Llamando al 760-391-9600.

El presupuesto para afuera de la casa (Tarifa 2) son calculados individualmente para todos los clientes residenciales y de paisajes grandes.

Conozca más acerca de las tarifas de CVWD.

Adentro

•    Únicamente utilice la lavadora de ropa y la de trastes cuando estén llenas.

•    Cierre la llave del agua mientras se cepilla los dientes o si le es posible mientras se lava las manos.

•    Revise sus llaves e inodoros por escapes y repárelos.

•    Reduzca el flujo de agua de la llave a la mitad instalando un económico dispositivo de aireación. Puede comprar aireadores en ferreterías locales. También puede conservar agua reduciendo la presión del agua. Para reducir la presión del agua puede cerrar un poco la válvula de suministro de agua de la llave que se encuentra debajo del fregadero.

•    Acorte sus duchas por unos minutos o instale una cabecilla de consumo de agua eficiente en la regadera.

•    En vez de que deje la comida debajo del chorro de agua para descongelarla, mejor descongélela dentro del refrigerador.

A fuera

•    Ajuste los aspersores según la temporada. Utilice nuestra guía de riego para ver los tiempos de riego recomendados.

•    Utilice la escoba en lugar de utilizar la manguera del jardín para limpiar patios, banquetas, y cocheras en acuerdo a la ley estatal. Una típica manguera de jardín de 5/8” puede utilizar de 12 a 15 galones por minuto.

•    De acuerdo con la ley del Estado, mantenga sus aspersores apagados por aproximadamente 2 a 3 días después de considerable lluvia o aguacero.

•    Para evitar la pérdida de agua por evaporación, riegue temprano por la mañana o por la tarde, especialmente durante el clima de temperaturas más altas.

•    Apague los aspersores en días ventosos para evitar el desperdicio de agua. El soplo del viento retira el agua de la planta y causa que se evapore más rápidamente.

•    Remueva las yerbas antes de que le roben valiosa humedad y nutrientes que deben ir a sus plantas.

•    Use mantillo (mulch) para ayudar a que las plantas retengan agua; Mejora la eficiencia de agua creando insolación a la tierra, mejora su estructura, restringe el crecimiento de yerbas, evita endurecimiento de tierra, y reduce la necesidad de cultivo. Los mantillos (mulches) están formados de materias orgánicas tales como cortezas de árboles molidos, aserrín de secoyas y compost.

•    Ajuste su cortadora de césped para que corte más alto, el césped largo retiene la tierra húmeda por más largo tiempo. 

CDC: “El virus COVID-19 no ha sido detectado en el agua para beber. Métodos de tratamiento de agua convencionales que utilizan filtración y desinfección, tales como la mayoría de los sistemas del agua municipales deben remover o inactivar el virus que causa COVID-19.”: Por CVC (por Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades). Conozca más en  www.cdc.gov

AMI offers two-way communication between the water meter and CVWD.  Readings are taken at a set interval (typically every 15 minutes) and then transmitted to the District’s computer system daily.  An AMI endpoint is plugged into the register to transmit the data via radio or cellular signals.  CVWD will continue to read the meters manually on a monthly basis for billing purposes.

CVWD is evaluating how effective different AMI solutions may be to meet the needs of CVWD and its customers. Specifically, staff will evaluate how AMI may improve customer service, water use efficiency, billing accuracy, and employee safety.

CVWD received a $100,000 grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to fund part of the AMI pilot project.  The grant is a 50% match, meaning the Bureau will match each dollar spent by CVWD up to $100,000.  Two of the three vendors participating in the pilot project are doing so at no cost to CVWD.  CVWD is using Domestic Water funds to pay for the match portion of the project.

The AMI systems will be installed and evaluated in the field for one year.  After one year, the AMI equipment will be uninstalled and returned to the vendor.  CVWD staff will continue to review the data after completion of the pilot to evaluate the feasibility of a district-wide implementation.

CVWD selected two communities within two miles of its Operations Building, located at 75525 Hovley Ln E., Palm Desert, CA 92211, to conduct the one-year AMI Pilot project.  One-hundred fifty (150) endpoints will be installed in the community of Indian Ridge Country Club and the remaining one-hundred fifty (150) endpoints will be installed in the Palmira and Lantana Estates Communities.

If you have received notice that your property will be a part of the pilot, you may enter your account number into a web query to identify the AMI product installed at your property.  You will need to enter their account number and the query will respond with the name of the system installed at the property.  Please follow the link below:
http://web.cvwd.org/ami/

Badger customer portal

Sensus customer portal
Customers need to enter the security token "Sensus" when registering.

Neptune - WaterSmart customer portal

You may contact CVWD staff via email at AMIPilot@cvwd.org.

All installations for the AMI Pilot Project will be performed by CVWD staff.

Yes, AMI technology is as safe as cell phones, laptops, blue tooth devices and similar technologies.  Customer data is securely stored on vendor-hosted cloud-based software.

The existing water meter will be replaced with a new water meter that is fitted with an encoded register.  The encoded register will connect to an AMI Endpoint that will transmit data to collectors at CVWD’s facilities.  The installation process may take up to 30 minutes at the customer’s property.

Yes, visual reading of the meter will still be available.

CVWD will solicit input from customers on what they like and do not like about the AMI product installed at their property.  Feedback from customers on the value of having near-real time access to their water consumption data, ease of use of the customer portals and dashboards will provide CVWD with valuable feedback.  CVWD will use feedback to evaluate whether and how to pursue implementation of AMI district-wide.

The AMI customer portal is for informational purposes only, official billing statements and online payments must be made through Paymentus at https://ipn2.paymentus.com/cp/cvwd

Agricultural reuse refers to recycled water used in an agricultural setting. Municipal water is treated and used again, employing practical and efficient processes to meet specific quality standards for the intended end use.

CVWD has been providing recycled water to customers since 1969.

A designated recycled water on-site supervisor is required to attend training at CVWD at least once every three years.

No. Existing below-ground pipes do not need to be retrofitted to purple pipes when a site switches to recycled water. However, above-ground fixtures, such as irrigation valves and control boxes, must be labeled and tagged with purple. All newly installed or repaired pipes must be the appropriate color purple.

Yes, all areas where recycled water is in use that are accessible to the public shall be posted with signs that are visible to the public, in size no less than 4 inches high by 8 inches wide, that includes the following wording: "RECYCLED WATER - DO NOT DRINK."

CVWD has a robust emergency response plan to respond proactively to natural disasters. Key components include proactive maintenance of hydrants and reservoirs, backup power generators, water quality monitoring, communication measures, and close collaboration with local fire departments and authorities. These measures ensure critical water infrastructure and supply remain protected and operational during emergencies.

While natural disasters and their impact are unpredictable, CVWD’s infrastructure and emergency plans are designed to minimize disruptions. Our wells, reservoirs, and backup generators ensure continuous water availability during emergency needs. Coordination with fire departments and local authorities allows for immediate response and resource allocation. 

In extreme cases, water quality could be compromised, and you could be advised not to drink the water until further notice. This alert is called a Boil Notice. For more information, scroll down to the “Boil Notice” section on this page.

We implement a robust maintenance program, which includes exercising lateral valves, flushing hydrants, performing inspections, and addressing any needed repairs. These proactive measures minimize the risk of failure during critical situations.

In rare cases where water pressure may be reduced due to extreme demand, CVWD takes immediate action to stabilize the system. Backup generators in each pressure zone are installed to ensure continued operations if the power is lost. Our team would also deploy additional equipment, such as portable water tanks and generators, to maintain water availability for firefighting efforts.

CVWD’s water system is robust and reliable, with wells pumping 234 million gallons of water daily. This water is stored in 68 reservoirs with a combined capacity of 174.2 million gallons. This infrastructure ensures adequate water availability for residential, commercial, and emergency needs.

Please call our 24-hour emergency operators at (760) 398-2651 to report issues with hydrants or water service emergencies.

Follow your city or county, first responders (fire, police), and utility providers such as water, power, and gas on social media and bookmark their websites and phone numbers. Ensure your contact information is up-to-date with your utility providers to receive urgent alerts.

• January 1, 2029 – HOA common areas, mobile home parks, and retirement communities must permanently discontinue watering NFT in common areas to comply with AB 1572.
• June 30, 2031 – HOAs must provide compliance reports to the State Water Resources Control Board every three years.

Non-functional turf refers to grass areas that are purely decorative and do not serve a practical purpose for recreation or other functional activities. If the only time people walk on the turf is to mow it, then it’s likely non-functional.

AB 1572 is a legislative act that prohibits the irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water in certain areas to promote water conservation and sustainable landscaping practices.

Steps to Get Started

• Assess existing turf areas
• Develop a plan to replace non-functional turf with sustainable alternatives.
• Educate homeowners about the benefits of water-efficient landscaping.
• Apply for any available rebate incentives for turf replacement.

*Apply early as funding is limited, and rebates are on a first-come-first-served basis. 

AB 1572 was implemented to address water scarcity issues by reducing water usage in landscaping. Non-functional turf requires significant amounts of water and replacing it with water-efficient, desert-friendly plants or other sustainable landscaping options helps conserve water.

AB 1572 applies to common areas managed by HOAs, commercial properties, and other specified areas.

Yes, CVWD offers rebates for turf replacement and high-efficiency irrigation. Visit our Conservation Rebates page at cvwd.org/rebates for more information; pre-approval is required.

Customers are encouraged to replace their grass with water-efficient, desert-friendly landscaping.

Penalties for non-compliance can include a fine of $500 per day.

No, AB 1572 does not require connecting to nonpotable water. It only prohibits the irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water. If the turf is functional, it may continue to be irrigated with potable water. 

Chromium is a naturally occurring metallic element found in the Earth’s crust, including in rocks and sediments of the Coachella Valley.

There are two primary forms of chromium:

1. Trivalent chromium (chromium-3) is the most common form of chromium. It is naturally occurring, nontoxic, and is an essential human nutrient.
2. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) can form during the weathering of rocks and sediments that have chromium-3. Exposure to chromium-6 over many years has been linked to potential health concerns.

Figure 1. Chromium-6 can form during the weathering of rocks and sediments that contain chromium-3.

Your tap water is still safe to drink. The only change is that the state has implemented a stricter regulation. The valley's water has not changed. Chromium exists in groundwater across California. The state is regulating chromium-6 at more stringent levels for potential health impacts, not for any immediate health risks.

The federal drinking water standard, used by other states, for total chromium is 100 parts per billion. The California drinking water standard for total chromium is 50 ppb, including chromium-3 and chromium-6. 

California’s adopted 10 ppb MCL is the nation's only drinking water standard for chromium-6.

In 2014, California adopted a new drinking water regulation specific to chromium-6 that was lower than the total chromium limit, setting a limit of 10 ppb. In 2017, the Court invalidated the 2014 MCL for chromium-6, ruling that the economic analysis used to set the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) was insufficient.

On April 17, 2024, after completing a new economic analysis, California again adopted the chromium-6 MCL at the initially proposed limit of 10 ppb. The MCL became effective on October 1, 2024.

The chromium-6 MCL is again being challenged in court for inadequate economic analysis and exploration of alternatives, and for failing to consider its impact on California’s Human Right to Water Policy.

CVWD is required to notify the public, using the state-required language, when the annual average of quarterly samples exceeds the chromium-6 MCL of 10 ppb. CVWD is also required to provide quarterly notices until all impacted drinking water supplies comply with the adopted chromium-6 regulation.

The average level of naturally occurring chromium-6 in CVWD’s wells is 9.4 ppb, with a range of 0 to 22 ppb. The adopted standard is 10 ppb. In other states, the limit for all chromium (3 and 6) is 100 ppb. California’s MCL is the nation's only drinking water standard for chromium-6 at 10 ppb.

Recent testing shows that about one-third (33 of 92) of the wells in CVWD’s Cove system have chromium-6 levels above the state's limit of 10 ppb.

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable drinking water for our customers. In October 2025, CVWD submitted a Compliance Plan and timeline to the California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, for review and approval, but has not received a response. 

The cost of complying with the new regulation will exceed $350 million, significantly increasing water rates.

Yes. This drinking water MCL impacts 129 water systems, which will have to spend billions of dollars for treatment, undermining water affordability across California, which is the basis for the current lawsuit. 

The chromium-6 MCL is again being challenged in court for inadequate economic analysis and exploration of alternatives, and for failing to consider its impact on California’s Human Right to Water Policy. 

Chromium-6 became a household name because of industrial pollution that contaminated drinking water supplies. In Hinkley, California, chromium-6 levels exceeded 1,000 parts per billion (ppb), compared with 22 ppb, the highest well with chromium-6 levels in CVWD's system.

Yes. The chromium-6 MCL is again being challenged in court for inadequate economic analysis and exploration of alternatives, and for failing to consider its impact on California’s Human Right to Water Policy. Along with many other California water providers, CVWD opposes this regulation, arguing that the State Water Resources Control Board failed to conduct the legally required public health, financial, environmental, and feasibility analysis and studies.

This drinking water MCL affects 129 water systems, which will have to spend billions of dollars on treatment, thereby undermining water affordability across California.

CVWD routinely monitors our water system and collects more than 17,000 water samples per year. CVWD’s water meets all current state and federal drinking water quality standards and is committed to complying with the new requirements.