TUD Office
18885 Nugget Blvd.
Sonora, CA 95370
209.532.5536

• Customer Service
• Wastewater Services
• Water Emergency
• Water Services

Questions About Your Water

TUD currently owns and operates 15 water treatment plants, 71 treated water storage tanks, two wastewater treatment plants, approximately 57 miles of open ditches and 330 miles of treated water pipeline. Our TUD Operations Department operates, maintains and repairs the water distribution system that delivers water to customers in the TUD service area. We continually maintain our water system to ensure reliable service of high-quality drinking water to over 14,000 service connections. If you have any questions or concerns about your water quality or water service, please contact TUD (209) 532-5536 to speak to our helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Occasionally, customers will experience changes in the pressure, taste, odor or appearance of their water that may be a sign of problems. These changes are often a result of problems with the customer's own plumbing system. These are problems that TUD cannot remedy, because they are not a part of TUD water distribution system. Common water service concerns, and some steps that customers can take themselves to diagnose and remedy the concern, are listed below.

Answers to Your Water Questions:

Why does my water sometimes taste or smell funny?

When your water tastes or smells funny, the problem might be in the water or it might not! Odors may actually be coming from your sink drain where bacteria grow on things that get trapped in the drain. Odor can also come from bacteria growing in water heaters — usually ones that have been turned off for awhile or have the thermostat set too low. Here are some ways to get rid of odd tastes or smells.

Chlorine: Chlorine is added to tap water to make sure that any harmful germs are killed. An easy way to get rid of the chlorine taste and smell is to let water sit in a glass for a few minutes. Then, put the water in a covered container and chill it in the refrigerator. Cold water tastes and smells better than water at room temperature.

Smells from the drain: To disinfect your drain take these steps. (Do NOT mix any drain cleaners or detergents with bleach; some combinations can create poisonous fumes!)

1. Run the cold water for 15 seconds then turn if off.

2. Pour one to two cups of liquid laundry bleach down the drain(s) that smell. Pour the bleach slowly around the edges of the drain so that it runs down the sides. Be careful when you handle the bleach because it can irritate skin and damage clothing.

3. If the smell is coming from a sink with a garbage disposal, turn the disposal on while the bleach is poured. This will spread the bleach around.

4. Let the bleach sit in the drain for about 10 minutes — no longer.

5. After 10 minutes, run the hot water for a few minutes to flush the bleach. Run water down the garbage disposal drain for the same amount of time.

6. Repeat these steps if again if necessary.

Why does my water sometimes look dirty, cloudy or have a funny color?

From the time your drinking water is purified at a treatment plant until it arrives at your tap, it may pick up things along the way that change the way it looks. Sometimes this happens as close as your home’s own plumbing.

Cloudy water: Water is cloudy when air gets in and makes tiny bubbles. The bubbles are

harmless and will disappear if you let the water sit in a glass for a few minutes.

Dirty water: Usually when water looks dirty, it’s because of changes in the way that the water

delivery system is being operated. When the direction that water flows in the pipe is changed — for maintenance work on a water main, when a fire hydrant is broken in a car accident, or there is a break in a water main — materials at the bottom of the pipes get stirred up. Usually, the water looks dirty for a short time and you shouldn’t drink it until it looks clear. One way to speed the dirty water out of your own pipes is to run cold water through all of your faucets for a few minutes. If the water is still not clear, then do the same thing again every half hour or so. The problem should go away within two to four hours. If it doesn’t, call TUD at (209) 532-5536.

Orange, red, brown or yellow water: Rust can turn water orange, red, brown or yellow. Rust gets into the water from two places — your water utility’s pipes or your own plumbing. To find out if the colored water is related to a plumbing problem on your property or your water heater, fill a large white bowl or bucket with water from the hose bib or faucet closest to the your water meter. Let the water run for two full minutes and then fill the bucket or bowl with water. If it is clear, then the problem is most likely related to the inside plumbing or water heater. If not, you should contact TUD at (209) 532-5536.

How can I find out more about what’s in my water?

Every year TUD publishes and mails to all customers an annual water quality report. The free report gives the results of the tests it does in order to make sure your water meets federal and state drinking water regulations. The report also explains where your water comes from and includes other useful information. To see the latest TUD Water Quality Report, click here.