1 MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 23, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Dawn Roth Lindell, General Manger, Burbank Water and Power BY: Richard Wilson, Assistant General Manager - Water
SUBJECT: Ground
Water Sources
RECOMMENDATION
Note and file.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide City Council with an update on the quarterly monitoring results for per-
untreated ground water sources. The table below provides the latest results since the last update to Council on June 23, 2023 that provided the April June results.
Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS) is a member of a large class of chemicals known as PFAS. They are widely used, long lasting chemicals that break down very slowly over time . These chemicals are used in numerous
commercial products to offer water and stain-repellent properties and in fire-fighting foams. It does not occur naturally. This compound persists in the environment and in biological organisms. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 116455 that governs drinking water standards, Burbank Water and Power is required to inform its governing bodies of concentrations that exceed the notification level for PFAS. Notification levels are health- based advisory levels established by the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) for chemicals in potable water that lack legally enforceable limits.
for DRL
ATTACHMENT 3
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2 On June 23, 2023 we notified Council that four wells exceeded the notification level for the first quarter and that Well VO-5 exceeded the response level in the second quarter.
The table below shows the concentrations of PFHxS at our ground water sources taken at various times within each quarter of the 2023 monitoring period.
The well for which the sample exceeded the response level was immediately taken out of service and will continue to remain out of service until DDW approves our new well blending plan. With the well out of service, the latest results show that 5 wells exceed the notification level. No new exceedances of the response level for PFHxS occurred and no public notification is required.
Please note that these samples are for raw, untreated water and PFHxS was removed by our treatment plant and was never detected
water.
As stated in our June 23, 2023 notification memorandum to Council, we have scheduled meetings with DDW to review and discuss all quarterly sampling results and ensure clarity of understanding with the new reporting requirements. We submitted a blending plan that will allow us to use all of our ground water wells and operate within the regulatory health advisory limit for PFHxS concentration. The plan has gone through several revision and we are very close to receiving their approval. DDW also reviewed this notification letter without comment.
cc: Javier Martinez, Manager, Production and Operations Nareh Ghevondian, Water Quality Analyst
1 The well for which the sample exceeded the response level was immediately taken out of service and will remain out of service until DDW approves our new operational plan. 2 The well was placed out of service in February due to operational issues and it has been repaired and placed back in operation in August.
Well
Number
Notification
Level
Response
Level
Jan- March
Results
April June
Results
July- Sept
Results
VO-1 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L 2.1 4.9 4.9
VO-2 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L < 2.0 < 2.0 ND
VO-3 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L 5.4 < 2.0 6.0
VO-4 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L 3.9 7.9 12
VO-5 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L 20 23 Off-line1
VO-6 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L 5.5 9.4 9.1
VO-7 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L Off-line 2 Off-line 2 Off-line 2
VO-8 >3 ng/L >20 ng/L < 2.0 4.6 4.1
ATTACHMENT 3
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