New Water Connection
Water
The GCSD obtains all of its water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. This pristine water originates in Yosemite National Park as snow melt from a large watershed in the High Sierra. With controlled human contact and granite-type geology, the mineral content of this water is far lower than most bottled water, and the bacterial counts approach zero.
The domestic water system consists of approximately 70 miles of water mains, 530 fire hydrants, 2 water supply booster pumps, 2 treatment facilities with clear well storage, an emergency water supply treatment plant, and 5 water tanks throughout 11 different pressure zones.
Treated water gets distributed to approximately 3,500 customers in the populated areas of Big Oak Flat, Groveland, and Pine Mountain Lake.
Annual Water Quality Report
Groveland Community Services District (GCSD) has released its Annual Water Quality Report (also known as The Consumer Confidence Report), which summarizes water quality monitoring and testing for the 2025 calendar year. The Water Quality Report is required under State regulations to provide our customers with an overview of the quality of water served by Groveland Community Services District.
This comprehensive 2025 Water Quality Report can be viewed below. Customers who wish to receive a printed copy may request one by contacting the District Administrative Office at (209) 962-7161.
2025 Consumer Confidence Report
Resources for New & Existing Development
Water Emergency
If you see water leak, please call 209-962-7161 immediately. Members of the Collection & Distribution team are available at all times for emergency response.
How do I turn off water to my home?
- Locate your master shut off valve. This valve is usually located where the water line comes into the house or near the water meter. If you do not have a customer shut off valve, we strongly recommend that you install one. Keep in mind that it is best to install the valve as close to the meter as possible.
- Depending on the type of valve, turn it clockwise until tight or rotate the handle so that it is perpendicular to the pipe.
- If you cannot locate or turn off the valve, please call the District Administrative Office at (209) 962-7161 and a member of our staff will turn off your meter for you. In case of after-hours emergencies, on-call personnel are available.
Water Leaks
Unnoticed leaks can cost you thousands of gallons of water loss every month. A slow drip can use up to 15 to 20 gallons a day, while even a pinhole size leak can waste 100 gallons in 24 hours.If you suspect you may have a water leak, here are some simple steps you can take to confirm this suspicion:
- Ensure that all faucets, irrigation, and water-consuming appliances are shut off at your home.
- Remove the lid from your meter box (It will be a rectangular cement box, usually found near the street), and record the meter reading off of the meter inside the box. More information on how to read your water meter.
- Keep all water faucets and appliances off for a minimum of 10 minutes, after which you will need to re-check the meter reading. Any movement of the dial or change in number on the meter face indicates that water is running somewhere on your property.
Please do not turn on/off District Water Meters.
The District strongly recommends the installation of a private shut-off valve located directly before your meter. If you do not have a private shut-off valve at your home, you may contact District staff to assist you.
Small leaks are often caused by leaks in your toilet or irrigation system. For this reason, the District offers toilet leak detector tablets in our office free of charge. If you require any assistance in locating your water meter or reading your meter, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service staff at (209) 962-7161.
There are many factors that can contribute to water loss. District staff is happy to assist you in any way we can, but ultimately the customer is responsible for all water that passes through the meter.
What should I do if I see a leak?
If you see an abnormal amount of water on the road or surfacing from the ground, please call Groveland Community Services District at (209) 962-7161.
I have an after-hours water emergency!
Call the District at (209) 962-7161 to report any after hours water or sewer emergency with the District's Answering Service.
Personal Shut Off
If you plan on being out of town for an extended period of time, or if you have located a leak in your home, you may need to turn off the water service to your house. In order to prevent damage to the District’s water meter, we strongly recommend that you use a privately installed shut off valve to turn on and off your water service.
How do I turn off water to my home?
- Locate your master shut off valve. This valve is usually located where the water line comes into the house or near the water meter. If you do not have a customer shut off valve, we strongly recommend that you install one. Keep in mind that it is best to install the valve as close to the meter as possible.
- Depending on the type of valve, turn it clockwise until tight or rotate the handle so that it is perpendicular to the pipe.
- If you cannot locate or turn off the valve, please call the District Administrative Office at (209) 962-7161 and a member of our staff will turn off your meter for you. In case of after-hours emergencies, on-call personnel are available.
Water Pressure
Annual inspection of your water pressure regulator is a homeowner's responsibility.
We live in mountain country. This fact makes maintaining a consistent water pressure across the entire community nearly impossible. For this reason, your house must have a water pressure regulator installed between your water meter and your first faucet or appliance that uses water. These are usually located inside the house (usually in your basement or crawl space beneath your house) at the point where your water line enters the house from the water meter.
GCSD is one of three communities in the nation with a water filtration avoidance waiver. The other two are New York City and San Francisco. The reason we don’t have to filter our water is because it is maintained in a pristine condition from snow pack to your home. This waiver saves our customers well over $20 per month on their water bills because filtration is expensive. The down side to this waiver is that sand and grit that spills off the walls of the Hetch Hetchy Mountain Tunnel can be pumped into our distribution system. We try to intercept most of this grit and sand with a large sand separator before it comes to your home. But, sometimes some sand and grit gets through. If you see some, please call us.
Because you may sometimes get sand or grit in your water, it could get trapped on the screen of your water pressure regulator. If too much accumulates, it could reduce the effectiveness of your water pressure regulator. For this reason, we ask that you or your plumber inspect and test your water pressure regulator on an annual basis. While inspecting the pressure regulator, your water pressure can be set to your liking for use inside your house. We suggest that you select a pressure between 40 and 50 pounds per square inch (PSI).
This is a homeowner responsibility, so please avoid damage to your home and appliances by checking your water pressure regulator at least once a year.
Water Conservation
Water conservation is extremely important to our community. Water is our most precious natural resource, and we must all work together to protect and conserve it.
State 1 - Water Shortage Contingency Plan
With no drought restrictions in place, GCSD may transition to State 1 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
The Urban Water Management Planning Act requires that each water supplier provide a Water Shortage Contingency Plan that outlines how the supplier will prepare for and respond to water shortages. The Plan outlines the District’s stages of response based on water supply conditions within the District’s service area.
Stages of Action
The Water Shortage Contingency Plan provides six stages of response based on water supply conditions due to water supply conditions within the service area. The initial Advisory Stage, set at 10 percent reduction, is a voluntary stage to preserve water in the early stages of a potential shortage. The other five stages of conservation levels identified in the Plan are designated to respond to increasingly severe supply shortages.
State 1 – Potential Shortage Stage 1 will always be in place, even in non-drought conditions as a water waste prohibition to provide a conservation program framework for reducing GCSD demands by up to 10 percent.
The following conservation measures will be implemented during this stage:
- Education programs
- Promotion of water-saving landscaping
- Requirement of low-flow fixtures in new developments.
- Meter and/or flow control for all customer accounts and plant production activities.
- Maintain tiered water rates for treated water.
- Prohibit wasteful use of water.
- Review water measuring and/or metering devices for accuracy.
How You Can Make a Difference
Indoor Water Conservation
In the Bathroom:
- Take shorter showers (aim for 5 minutes or less).
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Install water-efficient shower heads and faucets.
- Fix leaks—one dripping faucet can waste gallons of water per day.
- Use a dual-flush or low-flow toilet, and don’t flush unnecessarily.
In the Kitchen:
- Only run the dishwasher when full and use the eco-cycle if available.
- When washing dishes by hand, use a basin instead of running water continuously.
- Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge instead of letting the tap run until it’s cold.
- Use the garbage disposal less—compost food scraps instead.
In the Laundry Room:
- Wash full loads of laundry to maximize efficiency.
- Upgrade to a high-efficiency washing machine.
Outdoor Water Conservation
In the Garden and Lawn:
- Water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation.
- Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of sprinklers.
- Replace grass lawns with drought-tolerant native plants or artificial turf.
- Apply mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce the need for watering.
- Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
Car Washing & Hardscapes:
- Wash your car at a commercial car wash that recycles water.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Collect and reuse rainwater for outdoor watering.
Other Water-Saving Habits
General Water Conservation:
- Check for leaks in pipes, faucets, and irrigation systems.
- Install rain barrels to capture water for outdoor use.
- Follow local water restrictions during drought conditions.
- Spread awareness and encourage family and friends to conserve water.
Water Shut Off Policy SB 998
Senate Bill 998 (SB 998) states that a customer must be at least 60-days delinquent in payment of a utility bill before a water provider may terminate services. This 60-day requirement before discontinuation of water service will apply to all Groveland Community Services District water customers. The State of California adopted Senate Bill No. 998 on September 28, 2018, to establish by statute the Water Shutoff Protection Act (California Health and Safety Code Section 116900). As an urban water supplier with more than 200 service connections, the District is required to comply with the Water Shutoff Protection Act including adoption of a water shutoff policy for nonpayment for residential users to become effective on or before February 1, 2020.