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Public Health Goals Report Presented by David Kimbrough, Ph.D . Water Quality Manager. City Council September 9, 2013 Item 14. Summary. Protecting Public Health. CDPH regulates drinking water for Community Water Systems (CWSs), like PWP
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Public Health Goals ReportPresented byDavid Kimbrough, Ph.D. Water Quality Manager City Council September 9, 2013 Item 14
Protecting Public Health CDPH regulates drinking water for Community Water Systems (CWSs), like PWP Some of these standards regulate the chemical content of drinking water These standards are called “Maximum Contaminant Levels” or MCLs
Setting MCLs CDPH sets MCLs by first finding the lowest concentration of any given chemical which has no adverse health effect This concentration is called the PHG The PHG is determined by the OEHHA CDPH sets the MCL as close to the PHG as is technologically and economically feasible The PHG is generally lower than the MCL
Complying with Standards • PWP routinely monitors its water sources for compliance with Drinking Water Standards • Results are sent directly to CDPH • Annual Water Quality Report or Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) • Triennial Public Health Goal Report • Report to the City Council • Details which chemicals are found in our sources at concentrations below the MCL, but above the PHG • Provides estimated cost of treatment to reduce the concentration below the PHG
Exceeding Standards • All of the water that PWP delivers to its customers is less than the MCL. • The following items are present in our source water at concentrations greater than the PHG, but less than the MCL:
Chromium(VI) • CDPH announced proposed MCL on August 23, 2013 • Public hearing to receive comments will be on October 11, 2013 • PWP’s groundwater concentrations exceed the PHG, but are below the proposed MCL • PWP’s levels are fairly typical • Most CWSs have Cr (VI) in their sources greater than the PHG • Currently, no Best Available Technology • Ion exchange technology may be effective
Chromium(VI) The PHG is 20 ng/L (nanograms per liter) or 0.02 parts per billion (ppb). CDPH announced a proposed MCL of 10,000 ng/L (10 ppb) on August 23, 2013. The public hearing to receive comments on the proposed MCL will be on October 11, 2013. PWP’s groundwater sources have Cr (VI) concentrations greater than the PHG but below the proposed MCL. PWP’s wells have between 2,000 and 7,000 ng/L of Cr (VI). Water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California contains between 100 and 300 ng/L Cr (VI). Most CWSs have Cr (VI) in their sources greater than the PHG and PWP’s levels are fairly typical. Currently, there is no Best Available Technology but recent research has indicated that ion exchange technology, similar to that used to remove perchlorate may be effective.