TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director
1. Subject
title
Public hearing to consider the 2025 Public Health Goals Report for City drinking water.
body
2. Summary
The 2025 Public Health Goals Report for City drinking water has been prepared to address the requirements set forth in Section 116470 of the California Health and Safety Code. This report is based on water quality analyses during calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2025 Public Heath Goals Report provides information related to drinking water contaminants exceeding the applicable Public Health Goals set by the State.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Conduct and close the Public Hearing.
2. Receive and file the 2025 Public Health Goals Report.
end
4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology
6. Discussion and Background
Under the Calderon-Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, public water systems in California serving greater than 10,000 service connections must prepare a report containing information on 1) the detection of any contaminant in drinking water at a level exceeding a Public Health Goal (PHG), 2) the estimated cost to remove detected contaminants to below the PHG using Best Available Technology (BAT), and 3) health risks for each contaminant exceeding a PHG. This report must be made available to the public every three years.
California Health and Safety Code Section 116365 requires the State to develop a PHG for every contaminant that is regulated with a primary drinking water standard or for any contaminant the State is proposing to regulate with a primary drinking water standard. A PHG is set based on the level of a contaminant in drinking water that poses no significant health risk if consumed for a lifetime. The process of establishing a PHG is a risk assessment based strictly on human health considerations. PHGs are recommended targets and are not required to be met by any public water system. During the 2022-2024 reporting period, the City water system exceeded the PHG’s for Bromate, Hexavalent Chromium, Perchlorate, Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS), Gross Alpha and Gross Beta particle activity, Radium, and Uranium. All other water quality monitoring results are less than the state PHG or federal MCLG. The City’s water system remains in compliance with all regulatory water quality standards.
The drinking water quality of the City of Orange Water Utility meets all DDW and USEPA drinking water standards set to protect public health. The 2025 Public Health Goal Report is available for review on the City’s website and once approved by the City Council, no further action is required by the City.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• 2025 PHGs Report