Sierra mountain water returns to 800,000 East Bay taps

The Pardee Reservoir collects water for East Bay residents from the Mokelumne River, which runs from the Sierra. The Pardee Reservoir collects water for East Bay residents from the Mokelumne River, which runs from the Sierra. Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close Sierra mountain water returns to 800,000 East Bay taps 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

The taps of many East Bay residents are now flowing with the crisp waters of Sierra Nevada after a five-month hiatus.

East Bay Municipal District (EBMUD) announced that customers west of the Oakland Hills would no longer receive source water from local reservoirs, as was the case since Nov. 2016 while the Orinda Water Treatment Plant underwent upgrades.

To ensure the uninterrupted delivery of water during construction, EBMUD sourced water from Sobrante, San Pablo and Upper San Leandro plants for five months. Up to 800,000 East Bay residents were affected by the switch, reports the East Bay Times.

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Some customers noted a change in taste and smell between local water and that sourced from the Sierras, but EBMUD asserts that all of its customers "receive high-quality drinking water that meets or surpasses all state and federal regulatory requirements," says a statement on its website.

The Orinda plant, which has been operating since 1935, underwent $22-million in renovations to upgrade its treatment processes and to allow for easier plant maintenance.

As of Thursday, customers will once again sip the fresh waters of the Mokelumne River in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Read Michelle Robertson’s latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.