9/2/2025
1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
2025 PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM REPORT
ON PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS
City Council
September 16, 2025
Public Utilities – Water Division
RiversideCA.gov
2 1. California Health & Safety Code Sections 116470 (b)- (f) require public water systems serving over 10,000
service connections that exceed one or more Public
Health Goals (PHGs) to prepare and present a report
every three years.
2. On July 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. a public hearing was
held during the normally scheduled City of Riverside
Board of Public Utilities Meeting. No comments were
received from the public.
BACKGROUND
1 2
9/2/2025
2 RiversideCA.gov
3 1. Public Health Goals
a) Non-enforceable contaminant levels
i. Theoretical
ii. Zero risk
2. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
(OEHHA)
a) California EPA
3. Unique to California
DISCUSSION
RiversideCA.gov
4 1. Development
a) Long term animal laboratory studies
b) Extrapolate to zero impact
i. Often controversial
2. Compliance
a) Report any detected contaminant that exceeds the PHG b) Estimate costs to treat to the PHG
c) Hold public hearing
PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS
3 4
9/2/2025
3 RiversideCA.gov
5 1. Public Health Goal
a) Theoretical level (perfect world)
b) Unenforceable
2. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
a) Enforceable
b) Balances cost vs. Risk
PHG VS. MCL
RiversideCA.gov
6 1. Reporting Period: 2022-2024
2. Seven constituents exceed PHGs
a) Arsenic
b) Chromium, Hexavalent
c) Gross Alpha Particle Activity
d) Nickel
e) Perchlorate
f) Uranium
g) Copper (at the tap)
3. None exceeded MCL
RPU’S REPORT
5 6
9/2/2025
4 RiversideCA.gov
7 1. Treatment method was determined by using the best available treatment technology as determined by the DDW.
2. Treatment costs provided by the Association of California Water Agencies.
TREATMENT COST ESTIMATES
Cost per Customer per YearConstituent
$245 - $802 Arsenic
$835 - $3,293 Chromium, Hexavalent
$835 - $3,293 Gross Alpha Particle
Activity
$835 - $3,293 Nickel
$142 - $464Perchlorate
$245 - $802 Uranium
No estimateCopper (at the tap)
RiversideCA.gov
8 1. Drinking water in compliance with MCL expose
customers to a small level of risk
2. Meeting PHG is expensive
3. No large public water system is expected to meet all PHGs and MCLGs
CONCLUSIONS
7 8
9/2/2025
5 RiversideCA.gov
9 That the City Council adopt the public water system
report on Public Health Goals (PHG) as required under
California Health and Safety Code Section 116470(c).
RECOMMENDATIONS
9