Water Quality

Water Quality Facts

The City of San Bruno is proud to produce high quality water that continues to meet and exceed all federal and state standard for safe drinking water.  The Water Division feels it is important to answer all questions that our customers may have regarding drinking water.  The following fact sheets have been compiled to answer many of our customers commonly asked questions.

Dirty or Discolored Water

Taste and Odor

Hard Water

Water Main Flushing

Chromium 6

Water Supply and Quality

The City of San Bruno utilizes ground water and surface water to supply domestic water to over 11,000 service connections through approximately 116 miles of water mains.  Groundwater is produced locally from its groundwater wells.  Surface water is predominantly supplied from runoff and snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada delivered through the Hetch Hetchy aqueducts. San Bruno’s surface water is treated at the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant which is owned and operated by the San Francisco Public Utility Commission (SFPUC). San Bruno residents receive a blend of surface and groundwater from these sources.

The City's wells supply over 2 million gallons daily. Historically, approximately half of the City’s total water supply is derived from purchased surface water from the SFPUC and the groundwater that is produced from the City’s wells. 

Water is stored at multiple storage tanks located throughout the City to supply peak demands as well provide adequate fire protection for the community. 


If you have other questions, please call the Water Division at 650-616-7160.

  1. Disinfection
  2. Keeping Your Water Safe
  3. Water Characteristics
  4. Water Pressure
  5. Water Pressure - High
  6. Water Pressure - Low

At the SFPUC Water Treatment Plant and well sites, chemicals are added to water for the purpose of disinfection. Effective February 2004, the City converted from Chlorine to Chloramines as the primary water disinfectant. Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia. The conversion to Chloramines has allowed the City to increase protection of public health, while meeting stricter state and federal water quality regulations. Chloramine is more stable than chlorine and will last longer in the distribution system, providing increased protection from bacterial contamination and improving taste and odor.