1 STAFF REPORT
DAT
E: October 24, 2023
T
O: Justin Hess, City Manager
F
ROM: Dawn Lindell, General Manager, Burbank Water and Power VIA: Richard Wilson, Assistant General Manager, Water Systems BY: Javier Martinez, Manager Water Production and Operations S
UBJECT: Update on the Exceedance of Response Level for Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid in Groundwater Sources
RE
COMMENDATION
Note and file.
BACKG
ROUND
The purpose of this report is to provide an update to City Council on monitoring results for per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Burbank’s untreated groundwater sources.
Pe
r- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals are used and produced extensively for both commercial and industrial purposes . They have water and stain- repellent properties, making them useful in numerous commercial products and used in fire-fighting foams.
These long-lasting chemicals break down very slowly over time and have been called “forever chemicals.” Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are members of the PFAS group of chemicals. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
DI
SCUSSION
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 116455, which governs notifications upon detection of contaminants found in drinking water delivered by the public water system that exceeds the maximum contaminant level, Burbank Water and Power (BWP) 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.
On
October 31, 2022, DDW required all water systems to begin reporting exceedances of the notification and response levels for PFHxS for drinking water delivered for human
WATER AND
POWER
Richard Wilson
Javier Martinez
2 consumption. A response level (RL) is set higher than a notification level and represents a recommended chemical concentration level at which water systems must decide to either: (1) take the water source out of service; or (2) treat the water and notify the public.
Recent Events
In June 2023, we exceeded both the notification and action levels for PFHxS . It is important to note that the response level exceedance was for raw (untreated) water samples, and PFHxS is removed by our treatment plant and has never been detected in Burbank’s drinking water. At the time, BWP provided the following documents to council:
1. Exceedance of the notification level for PFHxS dated June 12, 2023 (Attachment 1).
This document outlined four actions to be taken:
a. Quarterly meetings with DDW to review and discuss quarterly sampling results; and
b. Immediate notification of exceedances in quarterly sample results; and c. When required, provide public notification of sample results within 30 days of receiving test results; and
d. BWP will meet the 30-day notification within 30 days or earlier.
2. Exceedance of the response level for PFHxS dated June 23 , 2023 (Attachment 2).
This document informed council that:
a. W ell number 5 would be immediately taken out of service until further notice. b. We would notify the public (subsequent to the memo, DDW confirmed that we were not required to notify the public because the well was turned off.
Therefore, we did not notify the public , and the well has remained out of service).
c. BWP would amend the operating permit for the water treatment plant (i.e., the Burbank Operable Unit) to include the removal of PFAS as part of the treatment process (note: the process removes PFAS. However, at the time the operating permit was granted, PFAS was not a contaminant. Now, the operating permit needs to be amended to include the existing process as an effective means of PFAS removal).
Response to Recent Events
1. In addition to phone calls and e- mails, we have met with DDW in person twice since June 12, 2023, to discuss our sample results and testing notification requirements and have scheduled quarterly meetings to discuss the results of each quarterly sampling event;
2. In addition to the notifications provided to Council in Attachments 1 and 2, Council was also provided with:
a. T hird Quarter PFAS Monitoring Results for Burbank’s Untreated Ground Water Sources, dated August 23, 2023 (Attachment 3).
b. Notification of an Exceedance of PFHxS in Untreated Ground Water at Well 7, Dated September 21, 2023 (Attachment 4).
3 3. BWP developed a draft blending plan that will allow the city to change the point of compliance for PFHxS from each individual well to a point in the system where the groundwater from all of the wells gets blended together. The plan was approved on October 4, 2023, allowing us greater operational flexibility and BWP to return Well 5 to service.
It is crucial to emphasize that the observed exceedance in response levels pertains exclusively to raw (untreated) water samples. Our treatment plan effectively removes PFHxS, and it has never been detected in Burbank’s drinking water.
Information regarding the detections noted above is summarized in tabular form in Attachment 5.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
The blending plan for PFHxS will increase the number and frequency of samples that need to be taken, resulting in more staff time and an increase in laboratory costs totaling approximately $56,000 per year.
CONCLUSION
Burbank Water and Power is unwavering in its dedication to the well-being and safety of all water users. We will continue to diligently conduct water testing in compliance with the law and promptly inform both the council and the public of our findings.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Exceedance of the Notification Level for PFHxS, dated June 12, 2023 Attachment 2 – Exceedance of the Response Level for PFHxS, dated June 23, 2023 Attachment 3 – Third Quarter PFAS Monitoring Results for Burbank’s Untreated Ground Water Sources, dated August 23, 2023
Attachment 4 – Notification of an Exceedance of PFHxS in Untreated Groundw ater at Well 7, Dated September 21, 2023
Attachment 5 – Summary Table of Quarterly Test Sample Results for Calendar Year 2023