Turlock turns to treating surface water as groundwater depletes

On Wednesday, the city of Turlock began adding small amounts of chlorine to its water system. Historically, the city relied solely on sealed groundwater wells for its entire water supply, but only 23 of the city's 40 wells remain operable after decades of over-pumping. To make up for the deficit, surface water from the Tuolumne River is being funneled through treatment plants and added to the city's water system. That surface water must undergo several treatment steps in order to ensure it is safe enough for people to use.