August 19, 2025
Drinking Water Public Health Goals Report
Historical Basis & Policy
Safe Drinking Water Act 1996 (Calderon-Sher) – amended 1999 Cal-Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) establish Public Health Goals Public Health Goals are not regulatory standards
Public Health Goals not based on technology or cost
Prepare report every 3 years
Public Health Goal Report
Identify type and levels of contaminants detected
Determine Best Available Treatment options; if necessary Estimate cost to reduce or remove each contaminant from water supply Make recommendations if needed
Review PHG report in public forum
2022 – 2024 Data Analysis
Chemical
Range Detected in Fullerton
PHG
MCL
Coliform - %
0 – 0.5%
None
5 Tetrachlorethylene (PCE) – ppb
0.9 – 1.9
0.06 5.0
Uranium – pCi/L
1.29 – 7.33
0.43 20
Perchlorate – ppb
<1 – 2.5
1.0 6.0
Arsenic – ppb
<2 – 7.4
0.004
10 Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) – ppt
5.0 – 15.1
1.0 None*
Perfluorooctanic Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) – ppt
7.1 – 34.9
0.007
None*
Note* - The EPA adopted an MCL in April 2024 that will go into effect in April 2029 Public Health Goals (PHG) – Concentrations of drinking water contaminants that pose no significant health risks with lifetime of consumption Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – Legally enforceable standards for contaminants in drinking water based on health risks, detectability, treatability, and cost of treatment.
Staff Recommendations
Received and File Report.
NOTE: Future treatment plants for PFAS may help remove additional contaminants
Questions?
The Drinking Water Public Health Goals Report is available on the City website.
Residents may request a physical copy of the Public Health Goals Report or the Annual Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report:
714-738-2835
[email protected]
Reference: Coliform
PHG = 0%; MCL = 5%
Maximum level detected in Fullerton during any month: 0.5% Category of risk = pathogen
Cancer risk - None
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Chlorination
Cross-Connection Program
Positive system pressure
These BATs are already in place, no additional
cost to customers
Actions recommended - none
Reference: Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
PHG = 0.6 ng/L; MCL = 5 ng/L
Range Detected in Fullerton: 0.9 TO 1.9 ng/L
Category of risk = carcinogen
Cancer risk
@ PHG = one in a million
@ MCL = eight in one hundred thousand
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) & Packed Aeration Tower $847,366.82-$1,603,478.80/Year to reduce at or below the PHG ($26.69-$50.50/Year per customer) Actions recommended - none
Reference: Uranium
PHG = 0.43 pCi/L; MCL = 20 pCi/L
Range Detected in Fullerton: 1.29 to 7.33 pCi/L
Category of risk = carcinogen
Cancer risk
@ PHG = one in a million
@ MCL = five in one hundred thousand
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Ion Exchange/Water Softening treatment
$2,211,617.27/Year to reduce level at or below the PHG ($69.66/Year per customer) Actions recommended - none
Reference: Perchlorate
PHG = 1.0 ppb MCL = 6.0 ppb
Range Detected in Fullerton: <1 to 2.5 pCi/L
Category of risk = Endocrine toxicity
Cancer risk
@ PHG = one in a million
@ MCL = three in ten thousand
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Ion Exchange/Water Softening treatment
$2,611,818.09/Year to reduce level at or below the PHG ($82.26/Year per customer) Actions recommended - none
Reference: Arsenic
PHG = 0.004 ppb MCL = 10 ppb
Range Detected in Fullerton: <2.0 to 7.4 ppb
Category of risk = carcinogen
Cancer risk
@ PHG = one in a million
@ MCL = 2.5 in 1,000
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Ion Exchange/Water Softening treatment
$2,107,629.72/Year to reduce to below or at PHG ($66.38/Year per customer) Actions recommended - none
Reference: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
PHG = .007 ng/L
Range Detected in Fullerton: 5 to 15.1 ng/L
Category of risk = carcinogen
Cancer risk
@ PHG = one in a million
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Ion Exchange/ Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
$4,821,415.00-$13,396,473.00/Year to reduce level at or below PHG ($151.86-$421.95/Year per customer) Actions recommended - none
Reference: Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS)
PHG = 1 ng/L
Range Detected in Fullerton: 7.1 to 34.9 ng/L
Category of risk = carcinogen
Cancer risk
@ PHG = one in a million
Best Available Treatment (BAT)
Ion Exchange/ Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
$4,821,415.00-$13,396,473.00/Year to reduce level at or below PHG ($151.86-$421.95/Year per customer) Actions recommended - none