Sodium levels in CCWD's water supply vary seasonally and tend to be higher during summer and fall months than in the winter or in spring. Some bottled drinking waters, in fact, contain more sodium than does tap water. For the majority of the population, the concentrations of sodium that occur during summer will pose no problem from a health standpoint. CCWD customers are concerned about sodium levels in their drinking water. The District proposed Los Vaqueros Reservoir to the voters as a solution to the salinity problems.
High salinity produces a variety of water quality problems.
High chloride levels cause objectionable 'salty' tastes in drinking water. The perception of salty tastes is highly dependent on local conditions and water chemistry. However, these processes are very costly , use large amounts of energy and produce liquid wastes that cannot be disposed of easily. CCWD has built the Los Vaqueros Reservoir as a means of controlling salinity levels in its water. By storing good quality water during periods of high mountain runoff, for use when Delta water salinity is high, the Los Vaqueros Reservoir will provide an effective reduction of salt content of water delivered to customers.