Agenda Item No: M.2
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Triennial Water System Report 2022-2024 on Public Health Goals
Funding Source: N/A
Contact: Michael Hether, (707) 428-7493
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Hold public hearing.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The California Health and Safety Code requires public water systems serving more than 10,000 connections to produce a triennial report identifying each contaminant detected that exceeded the applicable Public Health Goal (PHG) or Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG ) and then hold a public hearing based on the report. PHGs are water quality goals established by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). MCLGs are set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for contaminants that do not have a PHG. They are not enforceable regulatory standards but do prescribe the level of a chemical contaminant in drinking water that does not pose a significant risk to health. The city’s water system met the regulated standards for all constituents during the three-year, 2022-2024, compliance period.
DISCUSSION
Under the Calderon -Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, large public water systems are required to prepare a report every three years for contaminants that exceed their respective PHGs. In addition to specifying exceedances and the associated health risks , the report must incorporate an estimate of aggregate costs to reduce such exceedances below the PHG using best available technology. PHGs and MCLGs are non -enforceable drinking water standards established using health risk assessments and do not conside r other aspects such as treatment technology, feasibility, and other practical factors used to set enforceable drinking water standards.
The City’s triennial report, covering 2022 through 2024 as seen attached in Exhibit A met all the health-based drinking water standards and maximum contaminant levels required by the State Water Resources Control Board and United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The following contaminants within the drinking water system were detected at l evels that exceeded either the PHG or the MCLG.
Arsenic
Bromate
Strontium-90
Tritium
Uranium
Radium-226
Radium-228
Coliform Bacteria
Detection levels are discussed in further detail in relation to the respective PHG or MCLG. The numerical public health r isks associated with the MCL, PHG and/or MCLG are identified, along with the cost of compliance using the best available technolog y. Although contaminant detections were present, contaminant levels were well within regulatory compliance standards.
Staff believe the performance of the city’s system to be excellent and do not recommend any change of policies, procedures, or practices as a result. In recognition of the infeasibility of attainment of many of the PHGs, Health and Safety Code Section 116470(5)(d) states, “The State Water Control Board shall not require a public water system to take any action to reduce or eliminate any exceedance of a public health goal.” State law does require, however, that we provide copies of this report to the council and hold a public hearing to accept and respond to public comment on the report before July 1, 2025.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
Comparable water quality information is provided to the public through the City’s annual water quality reports available for viewing on the City of Fairfield website.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
No action is required. State law requires the presentation of the subject report and public hearing.
COORDINATED WITH
N/A
STAFF CONTACT
Jenell Pratt, Water Quality Laboratory Manager
(707) 437-5386
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Exhibit A – Triennial Water System Report on Public Health Goals