Laserfiche WebLink
EXHIBIT 1 <br />CITY OF SANTA ANA <br />REPORT ON WATER QUALITY RELATIVE TO PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS <br />Background: <br />Provisions of the California Health and Safety Code (Reference No. 1) specify that larger <br />(>10,000 service connections) water utilities prepare a special report by July 1, 2013, if their <br />water quality measurements have exceeded any Public Health Goals (PHGs). PHGs are non- <br />enforceable goals established by the Cal-EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard <br />Assessment (OEHHA). The law also requires that where OEHHA has not adopted a PHG for a <br />constituent, the water supplier is to use Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) adopted <br />by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Only constituents which have <br />a California primary drinking water standard and for which either a PHG or MCLG has been set <br />are to be addressed. (Reference No. 2 is a list of all regulated constituents with the MCLs and <br />PHGs or MCLGs). <br />There are a few constituents that are routinely detected in water systems at levels usually <br />well below the drinking water standards for which no PHG nor has MCLG yet been adopted by <br />OEHHA of USEPA including Total Trihalomethanes. These will be addressed in a future <br />required report after a PHG has been adopted. <br />The law specifies what information is to be provided in the report. (See Reference No. 1) <br />If a constituent was detected in the City's water supply between 2010 and 2012 at a level <br />exceeding an applicable PHG or MCLG, this report provides the information required by law. <br />Included is the numerical public health risk associated with the MCL and the PHG or MCLG, the <br />category or type of risk to health that could be associated with each constituent, the best <br />treatment technology available that could be used to reduce the constituent level, and an estimate <br />of the cost to install treatment if appropriate and feasible. <br />What Are PHGs? <br />PHGs are set by the California Office of Environmental Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), <br />which is part of Cal-EPA and are based solely on public health risk considerations. None of the <br />practical risk-management factors that are considered by the USEPA or the California <br />Department of Public Health (CDPH) in setting drinking water standards (MCLs) are considered <br />in setting the PHGs. These factors include analytical detection capability, treatment technology <br />available, benefits and costs. The PHGs are not enforceable and are not required to be met by <br />any public water system. MCLGs are the federal equivalent to PHGs. <br />Water Quality Data Considered: <br />All of the water quality data collected by our water system between 2010 and 2012 for <br />the purpose of determining compliance with drinking water standards was considered. This data <br />1 <br />75A-3