Item No. 1.
| MEETING DATE: 08/18/2025 |
|
| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR/CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR By: Elias Saykali, Public Works Director |
| SUBJECT: | DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS REPORT - CALENDAR YEAR 2025
|
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council and Utility Authority:
A. Conduct a duly noticed public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment on the City's 2025 Public Health Goals Report, and;
B. Receive and file the City's 2025 Public Health Goals Report in accordance with provisions of the California Health and Safety Code.
DISCUSSION:
State law requires the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to develop Public Health Goals (PHGs) for the regulation of drinking water contaminants. A PHG is the level of a given contaminant in drinking water that is deemed not to pose a significant health risk if consumed over the course of a lifetime. PHGs are recommended targets, and are not required to be met by any water system.
The Calderon-Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 (Senate Bill 1307) requires public water systems serving more than 10,000 service connections, such as the La Habra Utility Authority, to prepare a report that provides information on the detection of any contaminants in the water supply above the PHGs published by OEHHA, along with cost estimates associated with the removal of any detected contaminants, and identifies the health risks for each contaminant which exceeds a PHG. The PHG report must be prepared and made available to the public every three years.
After PHGs are developed by the OEHHA, they are forwarded to the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) for use in revising or developing a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in drinking water. The MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. California MCLs cannot be less stringent than federal MCLs, and must be as close as is technically and economically feasible to the PHGs. DDW is required to take treatment technologies and cost of compliance into account when setting an MCL. Each MCL is reviewed at least once every five years.
Based on these standards, the City's water system complies with all health-based drinking water standards and MCLs as required by the DDW and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The Calderon-Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 (Senate Bill 1307) requires public water systems serving more than 10,000 service connections, such as the La Habra Utility Authority, to prepare a report that provides information on the detection of any contaminants in the water supply above the PHGs published by OEHHA, along with cost estimates associated with the removal of any detected contaminants, and identifies the health risks for each contaminant which exceeds a PHG. The PHG report must be prepared and made available to the public every three years.
After PHGs are developed by the OEHHA, they are forwarded to the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) for use in revising or developing a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in drinking water. The MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. California MCLs cannot be less stringent than federal MCLs, and must be as close as is technically and economically feasible to the PHGs. DDW is required to take treatment technologies and cost of compliance into account when setting an MCL. Each MCL is reviewed at least once every five years.
Based on these standards, the City's water system complies with all health-based drinking water standards and MCLs as required by the DDW and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
There is no impact to the General Fund. The City's 2025 Public Health Goals Report was prepared in collaboration between Authority staff and Stetson Engineers, Inc. at a cost of $3,800. There were sufficient funds in the Authority's FY2024-2025 operating budget to fund this expense.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE/CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
This report is consistent with the following area of the General Plan:
WS 1.5 Drinking Water Standards
It is also consistent with the following City Council FY25/26 Goals and Objectives:
Goal 3: Maintenance and Improvement of City Infrastructure
Objective F: Maintain and improve sewer, water, and storm drain systems
WS 1.5 Drinking Water Standards
It is also consistent with the following City Council FY25/26 Goals and Objectives:
Goal 3: Maintenance and Improvement of City Infrastructure
Objective F: Maintain and improve sewer, water, and storm drain systems