Q. What does it mean when water from a faucet looks cloudy?
A. The cloudiness is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water, similar to the gas bubbles in seltzer and soft drinks. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top of the glass and are gone.

Q. Who is allowed to turn off the water at the meter?
A. Residents and plumbers can turn off the water supply using a private shut-off near the building, but only a qualified City technician should turn off the water at the meter. Call 615-2000 about half an hour before work is to begin to request this service. Outside of normal business hours, call 615-5640.

Q. Where does Santa Clara water come from?
A. The City of Santa Clara owns and operates the local water utility. About two-thirds of the water is provided through an extensive underground aquifer, tapped by wells owned and operated by the city. The remainder is water from two wholesale water agencies: The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) and San Francisco Hetch-Hetchy System. Santa Clara's water system consists of more than 295 miles of water mains, 26 wells, and seven storage tanks with a capacity of more than 27 million gallons.

For more information on water, including tips on conservation and rebate programs, call 615-2000, or contact us by email.