Where does your water come from?

When you turn on your faucet, ask yourself, "Where does my water come from?" If you live in California, it comes from several sources above and below ground. Above ground is "surface water" - canals that bring water from the north to south via the federal Central Valley Water Project (1933), the State Water Project (1960), and east to west via the Colorado River Aqueduct (1939). These projects are water storage and delivery systems made of reservoirs, aqueducts, power plants and pumping plants that extend more than 700 miles - two-thirds the length of California - and 200 miles across its southern border with Mexico. They originate in the mountains and streams - that is why snowpack is so important as it accounts for at least one third of California water needs.

We also get our water from underground aquifers or "groundwater". They contain ancient water as well as water that filters down through the soil to recharge the aquifers. This water is pumped out of the ground by families using domestic wells and used for drinking, bathing and other household needs. Cities pump it, too, using municipal systems, and farmers use large capacity agricultural wells to irrigate their crops. During drought years, water is pumped out of the aquifers at rates that exceed its replacement. Farmers can drill wells as much as 2000 feet deep, draining domestic and municipal systems. Furthermore, as more contaminants such as pesticides and manure are used in the fields, the water that filters down through the soil becomes increasingly contaminated.