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February 23, 2018
On November 10, 2017, Santa Rosa Water issued a Do-Not-Drink
and Do-Not-Boil water quality advisory for an isolated area of
Fountaingrove when elevated levels of benzene were identified. To date, Santa
Rosa Water has taken almost one thousand post-fire water quality samples to
determine the source of contamination.
Santa Rosa Water is using this sampling data to drive our
investigation. With the help of water quality experts from across the nation,
including a forensic chemist, we are working diligently to find the source of
contamination in order to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Inside the water quality advisory area, we are finding the
highest levels of benzene in investigative water samples taken from services to
destroyed properties, but are also finding elevated levels in the water main
and other components of the water system. Outside of the advisory area, water
quality sampling continues to show no change in water quality.
Using sampling data
to drive the investigation
It is Santa Rosa Water’s mission to protect public health by
providing a safe water supply, which we take very seriously. Using data to
drive our decisions, we are deepening our investigation as we narrow in on the
source of the contamination. As a result, we have taken over 300 investigatory
samples from water services both inside and outside of the water quality
advisory area.
Drinking water quality samples taken outside of the water
quality advisory area from the water main -- which are representative of the
drinking water supplied to your home -- and from water services to existing homes within the fire impacted
areas, continue to meet all drinking water quality standards.
This investigation has also uncovered a very small number of
instances where water services to destroyed
properties have exceeded the maximum allowable level of benzene outside the
advisory area. At these locations, we have, or are in the process of, removing
the contaminated water service and replacing it with a brand-new water service.
 (Click here to enlarge post-fire water quality investigation map)
Do-Not-Drink and Do-Not-Boil water quality advisory area is NOT expanding
Outside of the advisory area, Santa Rosa Water has found no
evidence of benzene in the water mains, which is representative of the drinking
water supplied to your home, and no evidence of contamination in water services
to existing homes. The latest sampling data shows that of the over 100 water
service samples taken outside of the advisory zone, including water services to
destroyed properties, only six water services show elevated levels of benzene
in first draw samples.
These new findings are different from what occurred inside the advisory area where we continue to find elevated levels of benzene at water sample stations. Samples taken from sample stations are representative of water quality in the water main. Outside of the advisory area there is no evidence of elevated levels of benzene at water sample stations. Please be assured that if there are any changes in your water quality, Santa Rosa Water will notify you immediately.
Santa Rosa Water
will continue to take water quality samples from water mains throughout the
city on a regular basis to ensure that your drinking water meets or exceeds
drinking water standards.
For additional
information about the water quality advisory, visit or srcity.org/wqadvisory
and for specific questions about your water quality, please call our water
quality hotline at 707-543-3965.
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