We have put together a series of our most frequently asked questions to help you find the information that you need.
Where does my water come from?
Corona's water supply is a blend of local production wells and water that is imported from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California's Mills Filtration Plant and the Mills Pipeline. Approximately 51% of the City's water is imported from the Metropolitan Water District and 49% comes from local groundwater sources.
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How is my water treated?
Surface water is pre-treated to remove suspended dirt particles. After filtration to remove solids, water is disinfected with chloramine to kill harmful microbes. Groundwater from wells is disinfected before it enters the distribution system.
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When I turn on my kitchen or bathroom faucet, the water comes out white. What is wrong?
Dissolved air in the water causes a milky appearance. When you open your faucet, the pressure is relieved and this allows the air to form bubbles that rise to the top of the glass. It will clear within a minute, beginning at the bottom of the glass.
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How hard is my water?
Hardness is largely caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium that may cause a mineral deposit on fixtures and dishes. In Corona, hardness averages 338 parts per million (ppm) or 19.7 grains per gallon, which rates as hard to very hard.
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What is the fluoride content of the water in Corona?
Fluoride is not added to City water. Fluoride occurs naturally in Corona's water at an average of 0.3 parts per million (ppm), or 0.3 milligrams per liter.
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How do I flush my water heater?
Here are some general instructions for flushing your water heater. If you have any questions, please call us at (951) 736-2234.
- Turn gas valve to "pilot."
- Hook up garden hose to heater.
- Open valve until hot water is gone.
- Close valve where hose is hooked up.
- Allow heater to fill up, close cold supply on top of heater.
- Open up the hose bib again and let it drain. Repeat the cycle a couple of times.
- Disconnect the garden hose, turn the water supply back on and turn the gas valve to the "on" position.
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What is the water quality in Corona?
The City of Corona Department of Water & Power provides a safe and aesthetic water supply that meets and exceeds the State of California Health Services Standards.
The Water Production and Distribution Division performs continuous water quality testing to ensure safe drinking water. The City monitors its water supplies for clarity and organic and inorganic chemicals, in addition to other ongoing tests. Each year, the results of these tests are compiled and sent to Corona's customers in an annual "Consumer Confidence Report." Click here for the current consumer confidence report, prior reports and for more information on water testing in our facilities.
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What do I do if I have a water leak, emergency or outage?
Call the Water Maintenance Division at (951) 736-2234 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
For after hours emergencies, call the Police Department at (951) 736-2334.
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How do I calibrate my water meter?
If you are questioning the accuracy of the water meter, there is a test that you can perform to check this. Perform the following steps:
- Run water from the hose bib until the sweep hand on the meter dial is located at "0." Have one person stationed at the meter to monitor this sweep hand.
- Place a 5 gallon bucket underneath the outside hose bib, making sure that it is on level ground.
- Fill the bucket to the 5-gallon level and shut the water off. Repeat this two more times. The bucket will now have been filled and emptied three times, for a total of 15 gallons of water.
- One rotation on the sweep hand of the meter is equal to approximately 7.5 gallons. Therefore, the sweep hand of the meter should have made two rotations around the dial. Since one rotation is 7.5 gallons, two rotations equal 15 gallons.
Our representative will be happy to meet with you regarding any questions you have regarding the accuracy of your water meter. Call our office at (951) 736-2234.
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What do I do if I have low or high water pressure?
There are a few things that you can do to check to see if the pressure problem is on your side of the meter. First, check the pressure/flow at your outside hose bib usually located in the front of your home. If you are getting good flow at the hose bib, the problem may be isolated to somewhere inside your home. If there is very little pressure and flow from the hose bib, check your gate valve that is located on the stand-pipe to make sure it is turned on all the way. If your gate valve is on all the way, your pressure regulator may need to be adjusted or replaced. This pressure regulator is the customer's responsibility to replace if needed. If the problem is not found to be at the regulator, your service line may need to be replaced.
Our representative will be happy to meet with you to try and determine the source of the pressure problem. If you are experiencing low or high water pressure, call our office at (951) 736-2234 and we will send out a representative to perform a pressure test for you.
If you are installing sprinklers and need to know the pressure at your home, call our office at (951) 736-2234 and we will conduct a pressure test for you.
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How do I start or cancel my water service?
Applicants may start or cancel water service by contacting Customer Service by telephone or in person.
A new account set-up fee of $40.00 is charged on new accounts to offset the cost of establishing the account, which include creating accounting records, reading the meter and/or turning on the water service. The set-up fee is charged on the first utility bill of all new accounts.
An additional charge of $70.00 is incurred for after-hours service, or service that is requested to be turned on within two hours of the close of business.
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Why is water flowing from fire hydrants into the street?
The Corona Department of Water & Power is focused on water conservation to secure this precious resource for the future. Water flushing is a best management practice that helps to maintain water quality in the entire water distribution system, therefore protecting all of the water within the system. The flushing is part of the hydrant maintenance program, which includes exercising the hydrant valve, performed to ensure that there is sufficient fire flow protection. Most fire hydrant laterals sit idle all year long without water flowing through them, which can lead to stagnant water and water quality issues. Therefore the Corona Department of Water & Power has developed a routine hydrant flushing and maintenance program as part of our ongoing water quality assurance program. Please call 951-736-2234 for more information.
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