Water Quality & Supply

In accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), the Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power completed a system-wide inventory of service line materials. This effort was undertaken to identify any potential lead components within the water distribution system and to support the continued delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water.

The inventory determined that there are no known or suspected lead service lines within the system. These findings reflect the Department’s ongoing commitment to public health protection and transparent communication with customers.

The documentation below provides details on the inventory results and the methods used to complete the assessment for the following water systems:

If you do notice a change in your water’s taste, color, or clarity, it’s not unusual—temporary variations can occur in any water system. Contact DWP’s Customer Service right away so our team can investigate and resolve the issue quickly.

The type of backflow that is most likely to occur in your system (either from backpressure or backsiphonage) and the related health effects will determine which backflow prevention technology is best for your water system. The available technologies are described briefly below. Backflow prevention devices can protect your health and are mandatory to safeguard public health.

Each year, The BBLDWP will reach out to you for your participation to certify that your Backflow Prevention Assembly has been deemed as compliant by a certified Backflow Tester.

BBLDWP Backflow Policy

State Backflow Policy — California Department of Public Health

Backflow Standard 0.75″ – 2″ (Detail 17)

Backflow Standard 4″ to 10″ (Detail 16RP)

Supplemental: Backflow Prevention Devices Protect Your Health

The City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power draws its water entirely from local groundwater, using wells and springs throughout the Bear Valley. No water comes from the lake and none is imported from off the mountain.

Because the valley sits at the top of the mountain, it also sits at the top of the water cycle; the only water available is what falls here as rain or snow and soaks into the ground. The portion that stays in the valley becomes the Bear Valley Basin, which holds the community’s sole water supply.

Therefore, the City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power draws its water entirely from local groundwater, using wells and springs throughout the Bear Valley. No water comes from the lake and none is imported from off the mountain.

Because the Bear Valley Basin is small, slow to recharge, and completely isolated, the community’s water supply is inherently limited.

The basin relies entirely on local precipitation to refill. Snow and rain must seep through soil and rock before becoming usable groundwater, and that process can take months to years. Seasonal variations, multi-year droughts, and long dry periods directly influence how much water the basin can hold at any given time. With no imported water to supplement it, what the basin receives is all the community has to work with.

These natural limits shape how water is managed in the valley. Careful planning, well monitoring, and responsible daily use help maintain long-term reliability for residents, businesses, and visitors. Using water efficiently supports the health of the basin and ensures the community’s only water source remains dependable in both wet and dry years.

For over twenty years, The City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water & Power has implemented a Water Conservation policy for the sole purpose of preventing a water shortage from occuring in the community. This common-sense policy, now established as local culture, calls on the greater Big Bear Community to put water to its maximally efficient use.

DWP’s Water Conservation Policy

­­­Water Use

• Water is to be always used reasonably and productively
• Customers must repair all water leaks once detected
• Irrigation use must not produce runoff into sidewalks, streets, or adjacent properties
• Water can’t be used to wash ground surfaces (water permits may be obtained to bypass this restriction)
• Automatic shut-off nozzles must be installed on hoses
• Fire hydrants are not to be used except for fire protection

Irrigation Is Allowed

• Seasonally, April 1 through October 31.
• When less evaporation occurs, between 6:00pm and 9:00am daily
• Follwing an alternating, every-other-day schedule.
• Irrigation systems must be shut off and winterized November 1 through March 31.

🔎 Learn How This Policy Has Been Effective

In 2002, the Big Bear Valley was on the verge of exhausting its potable water supply. After five consecutive years of drought and steadily increasing demand, the region faced a Water Shortage Emergency. At the time, system demand was estimated at roughly 85–90 percent of total available supply.

In response, DWP established a formal Conservation Program to address the immediate shortfall and reduce the likelihood of future crises. The Water Conservation Policy described above was developed as a central component of that program. Since its implementation in 2003, the results have been clear: demand has decreased from over 2,600 acre feet/per year to a consistent sustainable level of less than 2,000 acre feet/per year.

Outdoor irrigation supports plants and trees, each of which has different watering needs. To help protect our limited water supply, we encourage customers to install the most water-efficient vegetation possible because…

Irrigation accounts for between forty to fifty percent of DWP’s annual water demand . Outdoor landscapes matter, but they are not essential to sustaining human life or the local economy. That makes irrigation the most practical area to focus on when protecting our limited mountaintop supply. Small adjustments in outdoor watering can create significant reductions in overall demand, easing pressure on the system and supporting long-term reliability for everyone.

Any reasonable effort to reduce outdoor water use serves the community. Click below to learn how…

How We Demonstrate Outdoor Water Efficiency

To help the community visualize what water-efficient landscaping can look like in practice, DWP has created two Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. These gardens showcase regionally appropriate, low-water plants arranged to reflect the natural beauty of the Bear Valley while significantly reducing irrigation demand. They are intended to serve as practical, real-world examples of how residents and businesses can transition away from high-water landscapes and toward designs that are both attractive and responsible. By following these principles, customers can help protect our limited water supply while enhancing the character of their properties.

Fox Farm Xeriscape Demonstration Garden

42050 Fox Farm Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Sunshine Xeriscape Demonstration Garden

222 Division Dr. Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Toilet leaks are one of the most common sources of unintended water loss in the community, largely because they often occur silently and go unnoticed. With thousands of toilets in use across the system, even small leaks add up to significant waste over time. Regular checks by customers present a simple, cost-effective opportunity to protect the local water supply and reduce avoidable demand.

Fortunately, silent toilet leaks are easy to identify! To do so, simply:

• Remove the lid of the toilet’s tank, exposing the water inside the tank.
• Drop food coloring or toilet leak tablets (available for free at BBLDWP’s offices) inside the tank to discolor the tank’s water.
• Wait 15 minutes without flushing the toilet

That’s it! If the discolored water from the toilet tank appears inside your bowl, you have a leak! If not, then you toilet is leak-free.

Freezing temperatures are a regular part of winter in the Big Bear Valley, but many residents and visitors from Southern California are unfamiliar with the risks cold weather poses to plumbing systems. When water freezes, it expands, which can lead to cracked pipes, leaks, and significant water damage. The steps below outline practical actions you can take to protect your home, prevent water loss, and avoid costly repairs during winter conditions.

Follow the Steps Below to Winterize Your Property

Winterizing Basics: 

• USE YOUR STOP & WASTE VALVE properly to remove all water from within water lines at your property. 
• Activate your stop and waste drain valve:
  • Use a T-Bar to turn it clockwise until snug, usually about a quarter turn. T-Bars can be found at local hardware stores.
  • If it turns more than that, or doesn’t feel secure, be sure to call a professional as it may be time to repair or replace it. If it’s not completely turned off or on, it may produce a leak.
  • Mark your stop and waste drain valve with a tall stake so you can find it in the snow.
  • Do not shut off your water at the meter.
    • Turning off the water at the meter is illegal, dangerous, and doesn’t drain the water from your home.

• Outdoors
  • Shut off and drain all outdoor irrigation no later than November 1^st .
    • Local regulations require outdoor irrigation winterization November 1 through March 31. 
    • Detach and drain your garden hose .
      • This prevents freezing water from backing up into the wall behind the spigot. 
      • Frozen water inside a hose can also damage the hose material. 
• Indoors
  • Insulate exposed water pipes including those under sinks, in attics, crawl spaces, or outside your house.
  • If you can, leave your heat set for 50-55 degrees.
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warmer indoor air circulate near the pipes.