That the City Council and Utility Authority:
A.  Review the 2025 Cross Connection Control Management Plan; and,

B.  APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. CC 2025-__ AND UA 2025-__ ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, AND THE LA HABRA UTILITY AUTHORITY APPROVING AND ADOPTING A CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL MANAGEMENT PLAN.

A cross-connection is an interconnection between a potable water supply and a non-potable source via any actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public water system (PWS) and any source or distribution system containing liquid, gas, or other substances not from an approved water supply.  The presence of a cross-connection represents a location in a water distribution system through which backflow of contaminants or pollutants can occur either through backsiphonage or backpressure.  Worldwide, these chemical and biological pollutants have caused illness and death during known incidents of backflow.

The purpose of a cross-connection control program is to prevent the occurrence of backflow into the PWS's distribution system in order to protect customers from contamination or pollution from any on-site hazards.  A successful program will have ongoing surveillance of the distribution system to ensure the backflow prevention assemblies (BPAs) are working properly, and potential hazards are remediated using an appropriate BPA.

The City adopted Ordinance 1521 in 1997 which implemented a cross-connection control program in accordance with California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 17.4.  Staff ensures that the routine testing of BPAs is completed annually, identifies potential hazards through plan check and inspection, and requires backflow protection when warranted.  Although still protective of public health, the CCR Title 17 cross-connection regulations require updating to address advances within the water industry.

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), via Assembly Bill 1671 (2017), intends to build a foundation of awareness and education by requiring robust cross-connection control programs for all PWSs.  The SWRCB developed a Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) to protect public health, and establishes standards intended to ensure a PWS's drinking water distribution system will not be subject to the backflow of liquids, gases, or other substances.  The CCCPH became effective July 1, 2024, with an amendment on March 19, 2025.  To comply with updated State regulations, the City/Authority must submit and implement a Cross-Connection Control Management Plan by July 1, 2025.  To meet this objective, staff collaborated with 28 other Orange County water system operators utilizing a legal consultant to develop a compliant template, which was then specifically refined to support the operating characteristics of the La Habra Utility Authority.

Staff recommends adopting Resolution No. CC 2025-__ and UA 2025-__ to comply with the requirements of the CCCPH.  Ordinance 1521 is currently under review by legal counsel to ensure its support of the City's/Authority's CCCMP and staff will prepare a revised ordinance for adoption in October 2025.  

There is no impact to the General Fund.  Development of the La Habra CCCMP cost $6,167.08.  There is sufficient funding in the Utility Authority's FY 2024-2025 Budget to support the cost of the plan development.