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3. Where Does Your Drinking Water Come From

Find Out Where Your Drinking Water Comes From

1. I receive and pay a water bill:
   

   If you receive a water bill, you likely receive water from a regulated water system. 

   1. Look at your water bill and contact the people who are billing you, make note of the water system name.
   2. Ask them if the water system they operate is a regulated water system. If it is a regulated water system, ask whether it is state, federal, or county regulated. Click here to learn more about regulated water systems.
   3. In addition, ask them any questions you may have about the water.


2. My landlord supplies my water. I do not pay a water bill:
   1. Ask your landlord where your water comes from and whether he pays for the water.
   2. If your landlord pays for water, ask them who the water supplier is and the supplier’s contact information.  Make note of the water system name.  Then follow the instructions in Section A above.
   3. If your landlord does not pay a water bill to an established entity, such as a city, a community services district, or a state small water system, Click here to learn about unregulated water systems.


3. I am a home or business owner and receive my water from a small onsite water system:
   1. Your water is likely unregulated, Click here to learn about unregulated water systems.


4. I want to learn about the water provided at a location such as a school, business, park, or other location:
   • Schools
     1. The water provided at nearly all schools comes from a regulated water system. Click here to learn about regulated water systems.  Use the name of the school when searching for specific water system information.
     2. If the school is in a very remote location with less than 25 students and teachers, it is possible the water system is not regulated.  If this is the case, Click here to find out information about unregulated water systems.  If you determine the water system is not regulated, talk with school officials to determine what they are doing to assure the water is monitored and is safe to drink.
     3. In addition, Click here to learn about lead sampling in schools.
   • Businesses
     1. Ask the owner of the business where they obtain their water from. If they pay a water bill to an established entity, such as a city, a community services district, or a state small water system, make note of the name of the water provider.  Click here to obtain specific information about the water.
     2. If the owner of the business does not receive a water bill, try to obtain additional details.  Ask them if there is a small onsite water system.  If so, the water is likely unregulated, Click here to learn about unregulated water systems.
   • Parks
     
     1. Most parks are overseen by some established entity, such as the State, a city, a county, or local home owners association, and most of them are regulated water systems.  Contact these entities to determine who supplies water to the park and who regulates the water system.  Once you have that information, make note of the name of the water supplier, and Click here to find more information.