The Westminster Water Division is proud to serve the highest quality water to Westminster and portions of Midway City. Westminster water is monitored daily and tested weekly for contaminants. If you believe you have a water quality problem, please consult the below common causes. If you still have questions, please contact Water Supervisor Paul Kalix at (714) 548-3699 or pkalix@westminster-ca.gov.

Common Water Quality Complaints

My Water is Discolored Brown

A nearby hydrant may have been hit or is flushing as part of routine maintenance which caused a minimal amount of sediment to enter the system. Sediment may discolor your water, but is not harmful. If your water is discolored during flushing, discontinue use and resume after your water runs clear. This could take up to two hours after flushing stops. The Water Division recommends you avoid showering and washing clothes during the hours they are flushing in your area until your water runs clear. Even though the water is safe to drink, the color in the water could discolor clothes.

If your water is a different color or remains brown for more than a day, please contact Water Supervisor Paul Kalix at (714) 548-3699 or pkalix@westminster-ca.gov.

My Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs

This is most likely not your water, but your P-trap. P-traps hold debris that have drained from the sink and prevents clogs deep within the plumbing system. P-traps can release an odor into the house which may smell like rotten eggs. To check if the water smells, fill a glass with water and take it outside the house (or at least outside the kitchen.) The water should be odorless. Running the water for several minutes will help eliminate the smell from your sink.

If your water smells once you've smelled it outside your kitchen, please contact Water Supervisor Paul Kalix at (714) 548-3699 or pkalix@westminster-ca.gov.

My Water Pressure is Terrible

Two main reasons cause pressure problems: water softeners and tankless water heaters.

Water softener: Water softeners require routine maintenance to clean the brine tank, resin tank and resin bed to maintain proper water pressure. Consult your owner's manual for cleaning maintenance schedule and requirements.

Water heater: Calcium buildup can effect a water heater's ability to function properly and can result in lowered water pressure. Consult your owner's manual for cleaning maintenance schedule and requirements.

If your water pressure is still low after maintaining your water softener and water heater, please contact Water Supervisor Paul Kalix at (714) 548-3699 or pkalix@westminster-ca.gov.

Flushing Water lines

The Water Division will conduct water main flushing in various locations throughout the City.  The City will post location, dates and times on Westminster’s social media, the city website and by posting ‘Water Main Flushing in Progress’ signs within the neighborhood.  Water main flushing is the process of cleaning or “scouring” the interior of water distribution mains (pipes) by sending a rapid flow of water through the mains.  These distribution mains convey water to homes, businesses and hydrants in your neighborhood and will accumulated sand and sediment over time.

The purpose of water main flushing is to maintain good water quality.  The flushing process may cause temporary discolored water and is not harmful.  Discoloration of the water is caused by small particles dislodged during the flushing.  Hydrant flushing also helps the Water Division conduct inspections of the hydrants to ensure that they are properly functioning as active components of fire protection.

In the event you encounter discolored water in your home, please be patient and allow your cold water to run for a few minutes at full velocity, maximum of 15 minutes.  During this time, you should avoid using hot water to prevent sediment accumulation in your hot water tank. If the color does not clear up after running your cold water, wait a while and try again.

If discoloration persists, please contact the Westminster Water Division at (714) 548-3699.  The Water Division appreciates your patience.

Non-Lead Service Line Material Designation Statement:

Westminster has completed the LSLI required by U.S. EPA’s LCRR. The deadline for the LSLIs is October 16, 2024. 

Through completing a historical records review and field investigations, Westminster has determined it has no lead or galvanized requiring replacement service lines in its distribution system. This includes any privately-owned or customer-owned service lines. 

Westminster reviewed all applicable sources of information, including: 

• Available construction and plumbing codes to assess historical regulation of lead service line disallowance (e.g. National Lead Ban, State Codes, County Codes, Westminster’s Codes);
• Available construction permit requests of Westminster, including 630 permits providing detailed information on the permits such as account number, address, permit (type, number, work class, issue date, status, description, application date, last inspection date);
• Inspections and records of the distribution system that indicate service line material, including inspections conducted during the course of normal operations (e.g., checking service line materials when reading water meters or performing maintenance activities), including 496 records collected in 2023; and
• Resource, information, or identification method provided or required by the State to assess service line materials such as customer data.

In addition to reviewing the above sources of information, Westminster used an alternative method to develop the inventory that was approved by DDW on a case-by-case basis. 

Westminster used stratified random sampling to develop the initial inventory. Stratified random sampling involves physically inspecting a subset of randomly selected service lines in the distribution system. That subset is stratified or divided into groups based on certain characteristics (e.g., years the service lines were installed). Stratification allows for a sample or subset of service lines to be more representative of the service lines in the distribution system. 

After investigating the subset of service lines, if no lead or galvanized requiring replacement service lines are discovered, the remaining service lines may be assumed non-lead with a certain level of confidence. 

Westminster inspected 3,246 service lines on the utility-side and 1,780 service lines on the customer-side, and the service lines were inspected non-lead. No lead or galvanized requiring replacement service lines were identified. 

Westminster intends to document service line material information obtained from normal operations, such as service line maintenance or water meter readings, after October 2024 and will update the initial 
inventory accordingly.