2022 Report on the City’s Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals — City Council and Authorities Concurrent, November 1, 2022

City of Santa Clara I 2022 Public Health Goals Report

2022 Report on Water Quality
Relative to Public Health Goals
(2022 Public Health Goals
Report)
City of Santa Clara Water and Sewer Utilities

for Compliance with California Health and Safety Code Section 116470(b)

City of Santa Clara II 2022 Public Health Goals Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 What are MCLs, PHGs, and MCLGs? ................................................................................... 3

1.2 City of Santa Clara’s Water Quality Data: ........................................................................... 3

1.3 Best Available Treatment (BAT) Te chnology and Cost Estimates: ...................................... 4

2. CONSTITUENT DETECTED THAT EXCEED A PHG OR MCLG: ................................................ 4

2.1 Arsenic: .................................................................................................................. ............. 4

2.2 Recommendations for Further Actions: ............................................................................. 5 ATTACHMENT 1 ............................................................................................................................... 6 MCLs, DLRs, and PHGs ..................................................................................................................... 6 ATTACHMENT 2 ............................................................................................................................... 7 California Health and Safety Code ................................................................................................... 7 ATTACHMENT 3 ............................................................................................................................... 8 City of Santa Clara Consumer Confidence Reports: ......................................................................... 8

City of Santa Clara 3 2022 Public Health Goals Report

1. BACKGROUND
The California Safe Drinking Water Act mandates that larger water utilities (greater than 10,000 service connections) must prepare and complete a report every 3 years if any water quality measurements have exceeded a Public Health Goal (PHG). The last PHG Report for Santa Clara was completed in 2019. PHGs are non-enforceable goals established by the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Where OEHHA has not adopted a PHG for a particular constituent, the Safe Drinking Water Act directs water suppliers to use federal Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) previously adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), if available. The report is to address constituents which have a California primary drinking water standard Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and for which either a PHG or MCLG has been set and exceeded.

Pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act, this report lists all constituents detected in the City's water supply from 2019 through 2021 at levels exceeding an applicable PHG or MCLG. Included in the report are the following:
x The numerical public health risk associated with the MCL and PHG or MCLG, x The category or type of risk to health that could be associated with each constituent, x The best treatment technology available that could be used to reduce the constituent level, and x An estimate of the cost to install that treatment if it is appropriate and feasible.

1.1 What are MCLs, PHGs, and MCLGs?
The USEPA and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) establish MCLs at very conservative levels to provide protection to consumers against all risks, excluding very low to negligible risks. In other words, MCLs are the regulatory definition of what is “safe.” MCLGs (set by USEPA) and PHGs (set by OEHHA) are often set at very low levels depending on the established health risk. Determination of health risks at these low levels are frequently theoretical, based on risk assessments with multiple assumptions and mathematical extrapolations. The USEPA sometimes sets MCLGs at zero, while recognizing that zero is an unattainable goal and cannot be measured practically by the available analytical methods. None of the realistic risk-management factors that are considered by the USEPA, or the SWRCB, in setting drinking water standards (MCLs) are considered in setting PHGs. These practical risk management factors include analytical detection capability, treatment technology available, benefits, and costs. The PHGs and MCLGs are not enforceable.

1.2 City of Santa Clara’s Water Quality Data:

All of the water quality data collected by the City of Santa Clara’s Water Utility from 2019 through 2021, for purposes of determining compliance with drinking water standards, have been considered in this report. These data have also been summarized in our Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) 2020, 2021, and 2022. The CCR is mailed as a newspaper insert annually to all of our utility billing customers during City of Santa Clara 4 2022 Public Health Goals Report
the month of June and represents water quality data collected from January to December of the previous year.

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) formed a workgroup which prepared guidelines for water utilities to use in preparing required PHG reports. The ACWA guidelines were used in the preparation of this report. No guidance was available from state regulatory agencies.

1.3 Best Available Treatment (BAT) Technology and Cost Estimates:

Both the USEPA and the SWRCB have adopted what are known as Best Available Technologies (BATs), which are the best available methods of reducing contaminant concentrations to permissible MCLs.

However, neither USEPA nor SWRCB have adopted or defined BATs to reach extremely low levels established by the PHGs and MCLGs, and such technologies may not realistically be available.

Accurate cost estimates are difficult, if not impossible, and are highly speculative and theoretical.

Therefore, they have limited value and may not warrant a significant investment of agency time and money. Moreover, in some cases, installing treatment to try and further reduce very low levels of one constituent may have adverse effects on other aspects of water quality.

2. CONSTITUENT DETECTED THAT EXCEED A PHG OR
MCLG:

The City detected arsenic in the distribution system, or source water for the distribution system, at levels above the applicable PHG or MCLG. The report would include any PHG or MCLG that was exceeded in one or more of our drinking water sources, if that had occurred.

2.1 Arsenic:

The PHG for arsenic is set at 0.004 parts per billion (ppb) by OEHHA. The PHG is set at a level that is lower than the 2.0 ppb detection limit currently achievable for that analysis. The current MCL for Arsenic is set at 10.0 ppb. Arsenic is a carcinogen and the risk of getting cancer from drinking water for a lifetime at the PHG level is one person in one million, whereas the risk of getting cancer from drinking water for a lifetime at the MCL level is 2.5 people per one thousand (or 5 people per two thousand). All of the City’s water sources are in full compliance with this limit. 2019 to 2021 Arsenic Results
Range of Results (ppb) MCL (ppb) PHG (ppb)
ND – 1.7 10 0.004
The identified BAT methods for removing arsenic from drinking water include granular ferric oxide resin (GFO) adsorption, coagulation/filtration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis (RO), and oxidation/filtration.

For the purpose of evaluating the cost implications for treatment of arsenic, RO was selected as the City of Santa Clara 5 2022 Public Health Goals Report
proposed treatment. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is also identified as the BAT for a number of other inorganic chemicals and can provide treatment for a number of constituents in addition to arsenic.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is an effective and commonly used treatment system in drinking water and wastewater applications. The RO process uses a membrane filter that requires high water pressure to allow water molecules to pass through and other chemicals to remain producing two streams: the treated water and the concentrated wastewater stream. The cost to provide RO treatment ranges from $2.03 to $8.04 per 1,000 gallons of water treated according to the ACWA guidance. This cost does not include the cost for design, planning, permitting, and waste disposal, which can increase total costs substantially. In 2021, the City used approximately 9,816 acre-feet of groundwater. This translates to approximately 8.8 million gallons per day. At this rate, the cost to provide RO treatment for all groundwater used by the City would range from $6.5 million to $25.7 million annually. TheĂĐƚƵĂůĐŽƐƚ ǁŽƵůĚůŝŬĞůǇďĞĂƚƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨƚŚĂƚƌĂŶŐĞ͕as each groundwater well will require a separate treatment uniƚ͘ Assuming that all groundwater wells would be treated, the $25.7million would represent a worst- case estimate. Based on these assumptions, and the 2021 population of 130,746, the annual cost implication per person would be approximately $197 annually.

This treatment option produces wastewater and treatment byproducts which must be disposed of properly. In addition, this treatment option may not be capable of meeting the PHG though it is identified as a BAT for the purpose of meeting the MCL. The MCL of 10 ppb for arsenic is a significantly higher than the PHG of 0.004 ppb for arsenic. The MCL is what has been determined as ‘safe’ from a regulatory standpoint, and which is enforceable. Also, since current analytical technology is not capable of measuring concentrations as low as the PHG, it would be impossible to verify that compliance with the PHG was achieved even if treatment was installed.

Since the City is in compliance with both the State and Federal limit for arsenic, there is no plan to install additional treatment. Arsenic results are summarized in the water quality data table found in the City’s 2020 CCR, 2021 CCR, and 2022 CCR as documentation of compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

2.2 Recommendations for Further Actions:

The drinking water quality of the City of Santa Clara’s water supply meets all SWRCB and USEPA drinking water standards set to protect public health. To further reduce the levels of the constituents identified in this report below the level that the state has already determined to meet the regulatory definition of “safe drinking water” would require very costly treatment processes. The large financial outlay required for additional treatment processes and the effectiveness of the treatment processes to provide any significant reductions in constituent levels at these already low values is uncertain and would merely mean that the already safe drinking water is slightly safer, however the health protection benefits of these further hypothetical reductions are not at all clear and may not be quantifiable. Therefore, no action is proposed at this time.

City of Santa Clara 6 2022 Public Health Goals Report
ATTACHMENT 1
MCLs, DLRs, and PHGs
Table 2 – PHG, DLR, and MCL
Constituent MCL DLR PHG
Arsenic 10 ppb 2 ppb 0.004 ppb
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level
DLR = Detection Limit for the Purpose of Reporting
PHG = Public Health Goal
Source: California State Water Resources Control Board: Comparison of MCLs and PHGs for Regulated Contaminants in Drinking Water
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/MCLsandPHGs.html Last Update: September 14, 2021
MCLs, DLRs, PHGs, for Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants (Units are in milligrams per liter (mg/L), unless otherwise noted.) Last Update: September 14, 2021
The following tables includes California’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), detection limits for purposes of reporting (DLRs), public health goals (PHGs) from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). For comparison, Federal MCLs and Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) (USEPA) are also displayed.

Inorganic Chemicals Table, Chemicals with MCLs in 22 CCR §64431 State Regulated
Inorganic Chemical
Contaminant
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Aluminum 1 0.05 0.6 2001 -- --
Antimony 0.006 0.006 0.001 2016 0.006 0.006
Arsenic 0.010 0.002 0.000004 2004 0.010 zero
Asbestos (MFL =
million fibers per liter;
for fibers >10
microns long)
7 MFL 0.2 MFL 7 MFL 2003 7 MFL 7 MFL
Barium 1 0.1 2 2003 2 2
Beryllium 0.004 0.001 0.001 2003 0.004 0.004
Cadmium 0.005 0.001 0.00004 2006 0.005 0.005
Chromium, Total -
OEHHA withdrew the

0.0025
-mg/L PHG

0.05 0.01 withdrawn
Nov. 2001
1999 0.1 0.1
State Regulated
Inorganic Chemical
Contaminant
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Chromium,
Hexavalent - 0.01-
mg/L MCL & 0.001-
mg/L DLR repealed
September 2017
-- -- 0.00002 2011 -- --
Cyanide 0.15 0.1 0.15 1997 0.2 0.2
Fluoride 2 0.1 1 1997 4.0 4.0
Mercury (inorganic) 0.002 0.001 0.0012 1999
(rev2005)*

0.002 0.002
Nickel 0.1 0.01 0.012 2001 -- --
Nitrate (as nitrogen,
N)
10 as N 0.4 45 as NO3
(=10 as N)
2018 10 10
Nitrite (as N) 1 as N 0.4 1 as N 2018 1 1
Nitrate + Nitrite (as
N)
10 as N -- 10 as N 2018 -- --
Perchlorate 0.006 0.002 0.001 2015 -- --
Selenium 0.05 0.005 0.03 2010 0.05 0.05
Thallium 0.002 0.001 0.0001 1999
(rev2004)

0.002 0.0005
Copper and Lead Table, 22 CCR §64672.3
Values referred to as MCLs for lead and copper are not actually MCLs; instead, they are called “Action Levels” under the lead and copper rule.

State Regulated
Copper and Lead

Contaminant
State
MCL
State
DLR
State
PHG
State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Copper 1.3 0.05 0.3 2008 1.3 1.3
Lead 0.015 0.005 0.0002 2009 0.015 zero
Radiological Table, Radionuclides with MCLs in 22 CCR §64441 and §64443 [units are picocuries per liter (pCi/L), unless otherwise state; n/a = not applicable] State Regulated
Radionuclides
Contaminant
State
MCL
State
DLR
State
PHG
State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Gross alpha particle
activity - OEHHA
concluded in 2003 that
a PHG was not
practical
15 3 none n/a 15 zero
Gross beta particle
activity - OEHHA
concluded in 2003 that
a PHG was not
practical
4 mrem/yr
4 none n/a 4
mrem/yr
zero
Radium-226 -- 1 0.05 2006
Radium-228 -- 1 0.019 2006
Radium-226 + Radium- 5 -- -- -- 5 zero
State Regulated
Radionuclides
Contaminant
State
MCL
State
DLR
State
PHG
State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
228
Strontium-90 8 2 0.35 2006 -- --
Tritium "20,000" "1,000" 400 2006 -- --
Uranium 20 1 0.43 2001 30 μg/L zero
Organic Chemicals Table, Chemicals with MCLs in 22 CCR §64444 Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
State Regulated
Volatile Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Benzene 0.001 0.0005 0.00015 2001 0.005 zero
Carbon tetrachloride 0.0005 0.0005 0.0001 2000 0.005 zero 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 0.6 0.0005 0.6 1997
(rev2009)

0.6 0.6
1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-
DCB)

0.005 0.0005 0.006 1997 0.075 0.075
1,1-Dichloroethane
(1,1-DCA)

0.005 0.0005 0.003 2003 -- --
1,2-Dichloroethane
(1,2-DCA)

0.0005 0.0005 0.0004 1999
(rev2005)

0.005 zero
State Regulated
Volatile Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
1,1-Dichloroethylene
(1,1-DCE)

0.006 0.0005 0.01 1999 0.007 0.007
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene 0.006 0.0005 0.013 2018 0.07 0.07 trans-1,2-
Dichloroethylene

0.01 0.0005 0.05 2018 0.1 0.1
Dichloromethane
(Methylene chloride)

0.005 0.0005 0.004 2000 0.005 zero
1,2-Dichloropropane 0.005 0.0005 0.0005 1999 0.005 zero 1,3-Dichloropropene 0.0005 0.0005 0.0002 1999
(rev2006)
-- --
Ethylbenzene 0.3 0.0005 0.3 1997 0.7 0.7
Methyl tertiary butyl
ether (MTBE)

0.013 0.003 0.013 1999 -- --
Monochlorobenzene 0.07 0.0005 0.07 2014 0.1 0.1
Styrene 0.1 0.0005 0.0005 2010 0.1 0.1
1,1,2,2-
Tetrachloroethane

0.001 0.0005 0.0001 2003 0.1 0.1
Tetrachloroethylene
(PCE)

0.005 0.0005 0.00006 2001 0.005 zero
State Regulated
Volatile Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Toluene 0.15 0.0005 0.15 1999 1 1
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 0.005 0.0005 0.005 1999 0.07 0.07 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
(1,1,1-TCA)

0.200 0.0005 1 2006 0.2 0.2
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
(1,1,2-TCA)

0.005 0.0005 0.0003 2006 0.005 0.003
Trichloroethylene (TCE) 0.005 0.0005 0.0017 2009 0.005 zero Trichlorofluoromethane
(Freon 11)

0.15 0.005 1.3 2014 -- --
"1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-
Trifluoroethane (Freon
113)"

1.2 0.01 4 1997
(rev2011)
-- --
Vinyl chloride 0.0005 0.0005 0.00005 2000 0.002 zero
Xylenes 1.750 0.0005 1.8 1997 10 10
Non-Volatile Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs)
State Regulated
Non-Volatile
Synthetic Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Alachlor 0.002 0.001 0.004 1997 0.002 zero
State Regulated
Non-Volatile
Synthetic Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Atrazine 0.001 0.0005 0.00015 1999 0.003 0.003
Bentazon 0.018 0.002 0.2 1999
(rev2009)
-- --
Benzo(a)pyrene 0.0002 0.0001 0.000007 2010 0.0002 zero
Carbofuran 0.018 0.005 0.0007 2016 0.04 0.04
Chlordane 0.0001 0.0001 0.00003 1997
(rev2006)

0.002 zero
Dalapon 0.2 0.01 0.79 1997
(rev2009)

0.2 0.2
1,2-Dibromo-3-
chloropropane
(DBCP)

0.0002 0.00001 0.000003 2020 0.0002 zero
2,4-
Dichlorophenoxyaceti
c acid (2,4-D)

0.07 0.01 0.02 2009 0.07 0.07
Di(2-
ethylhexyl)adipate

0.4 0.005 0.2 2003 0.4 0.4
Di(2-
ethylhexyl)phthalate
(DEHP)

0.004 0.003 0.012 1997 0.006 zero
Dinoseb 0.007 0.002 0.014 1997 0.007 0.007
State Regulated
Non-Volatile
Synthetic Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
(rev2010)
Diquat 0.02 0.004 0.006 2016 0.02 0.02
Endothal 0.1 0.045 0.094 2014 0.1 0.1
Endrin 0.002 0.0001 0.0003 2016 0.002 0.002
Ethylene dibromide
(EDB)

0.00005 0.00002 0.00001 2003 0.0000
5 zero
Glyphosate 0.7 0.025 0.9 2007 0.7 0.7
Heptachlor 0.00001 0.00001 0.000008 1999 0.0004 zero
Heptachlor epoxide 0.00001 0.00001 0.000006 1999 0.0002 zero Hexachlorobenzene 0.001 0.0005 0.00003 2003 0.001 zero
Hexachlorocyclopent
adiene

0.05 0.001 0.002 2014 0.05 0.05
Lindane 0.0002 0.0002 0.000032 1999
(rev2005)

0.0002 0.0002
Methoxychlor 0.03 0.01 0.00009 2010 0.04 0.04
Molinate 0.02 0.002 0.001 2008 -- --
Oxamyl 0.05 0.02 0.026 2009 0.2 0.2
State Regulated
Non-Volatile
Synthetic Organic
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Pentachlorophenol 0.001 0.0002 0.0003 2009 0.001 zero
Picloram 0.5 0.001 0.166 2016 0.5 0.5
Polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs)

0.0005 0.0005 0.00009 2007 0.0005 zero
Simazine 0.004 0.001 0.004 2001 0.004 0.004
Thiobencarb 0.07 0.001 0.042 2016 -- --
Toxaphene 0.003 0.001 0.00003 2003 0.003 zero
1,2,3-
Trichloropropane

0.00000
5 0.00000
5 0.0000007 2009 -- --
2,3,7,8-TCDD
(dioxin)
3x10-8 5x10-9 5x10-11 2010 3x10-8 zero
2,4,5-TP (Silvex) 0.05 0.001 0.003 2014 0.05 0.05
Disinfection Byproducts Table, Chemicals with MCLs in 22 CCR §64533 State Regulated
Disinfection
Byproducts

Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State
PHG
State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Total Trihalomethanes 0.080 -- -- -- 0.080 --
State Regulated
Disinfection
Byproducts

Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State
PHG
State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
Bromodichloromethane -- 0.0010 0.00006 2020 -- zero
Bromoform -- 0.0010 0.0005 2020 -- zero
Chloroform -- 0.0010 0.0004 2020 -- 0.07
Dibromochloromethane -- 0.0010 0.0001 2020 -- 0.06
Haloacetic Acids (five)
(HAA5)

0.060 -- -- -- 0.060 --
Monochloroacetic Acid -- 0.0020 -- -- -- 0.07
Dichloroacetic Adic -- 0.0010 -- -- -- zero
Trichloroacetic Acid -- 0.0010 -- -- -- 0.02
Monobromoacetic Acid -- 0.0010 -- -- -- --
Dibromoacetic Acid -- 0.0010 -- -- -- --
Bromate 0.010 0.0050** 0.0001 2009 0.01 zero
Chlorite 1.0 0.020 0.05 2009 1 0.8
Chemicals with PHGs established in response to DDW requests. These are not currently regulated drinking water contaminants.

State Regulated
Disinfection
Byproducts
Contaminants
State
MCL
State
DLR
State PHG State
Date of
PHG
Federal
MCL
Federal
MCLG
N-Nitrosodimethylamine
(NDMA)
-- -- 0.000003 2006 -- --
*OEHHA's review of this chemical during the year indicated (rev20XX) resulted in no change in the PHG.
**The DLR for Bromate is 0.0010 mg/L for analysis performed using EPA Method 317.0 Revision 2.0, 321.8, or 326.0.

City of Santa Clara 7 2022 Public Health Goals Report
ATTACHMENT 2
California Health and Safety Code
Section §116470. Public Health Goal Report
(b) On or before July 1, 1998, and every three years thereafter, public water systems serving more than 10,000 service connections that detect one or more contaminants in drinking water that exceed the applicable public health goal, shall prepare a brief written report in plain language that does all of the following:
(1) Identifies each contaminant detected in drinking water that exceeds the applicable public health goal. (2) Discloses the numerical public health risk, determined by the office, associated with the maximum contaminant level for each contaminant identified in paragraph (1) and the numerical public health risk determined by the office associated with the public health goal for that contaminant. (3) Identifies the category of risk to public health, including, but not limited to, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and acute toxicity, associated with exposure to the contaminant in drinking water, and includes a brief plainly worded description of these terms. (4) Describes the best available technology, if any is then available on a commercial basis, to remove the contaminant or reduce the concentration of the contaminant. The public water system may, solely at its own discretion, briefly describe actions that have been taken on its own, or by other entities, to prevent the introduction of the contaminant into drinking water supplies. (5) Estimates the aggregate cost and the cost per customer of utilizing the technology described in paragraph (4), if any, to reduce the concentration of that contaminant in drinking water to a level at or below the public health goal.
(6) Briefly describes what action, if any, the local water purveyor intends to take to reduce the concentration of the contaminant in public drinking water supplies and the basis for that decision.

City of Santa Clara 8 2022 Public Health Goals Report
ATTACHMENT 3
City of Santa Clara Consumer Confidence Reports:
x Consumer Confidence Report 2020
x Consumer Confidence Report 2021
x Consumer Confidence Report 2022

PAGE 5 | INSIDE SANTA CLARA | SUMMER 2020
Water Quality
Consumer
&RQŔGHQFH
Report 2020
This report adheres to the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and State regulations. Although the water you receive is tested for more than 100 potential contaminants and 48 other parameters, the majority of the potential contaminants are never detected. To simplify the CCR, only the constituents that were detected in at least one water source appear in the water quality table. We are also required by the State Water Board to provide additional information about certain constituents that appear on the water quality table even though our water meets all applicable drinking water standards. The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.

The City of Santa Clara is committed
to providing our customers with a safe
and reliable supply of high-quality
drinking water.

Each year
we publish a water quality SFQPSUcalled the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). It contains the latest water-quality monitoring results obtained through the end of 2019. The CCR answers some of the most common water-quality questions asked by our customers.

To ensure our water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of specific contaminants in water provided by public water utility. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law establishes limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.

Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

INFORMATION AND

GUIDANCE FOR PEOPLE

WITH COMPROMISED
IMMUNE SYSTEMS:

Report
Contains
Water Quality
Monitoring
Results
Drinking Water Must Meet Standards
The Federal Government carefully regulates the quality of drinking water.

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring the USEPA to establish uniform standards for drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act was further amended in 1986 and 1996, adding even more stringent standards. In California, these standards are enforced by State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.

There are two types of drinking water standards. PRIMARY STANDARDS are designed to protect public health by specifying the limits, called “Maximum Contaminant Levels” (MCLs) for substances in water that may be harmful to humans or affect their health if consumed in large quantities. SECONDARY STANDARDS are based on aesthetic qualities of water such as color, taste and odor. These standards specify limits for substances that may affect consumer acceptance of the water. Both Primary and Secondary Standards are listed in this CCR.

It is important to the City of Santa Clara that our water customers have current and factual information about your water supply. 5he goal of the CCR is to strengthen our customer’s confidence in the quality and integrity of the water supplied by the City of Santa Clara. We take pride in delivering safe, and high-quality water.

PAGE 2 | THE ANNUAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT | SUMMER 2020 Source Water Information
Q: Where does our water come from?
A: The City of Santa Clara has three separate sources of drinking water.

Often, these sources are used interchangeably or are blended. Altogether our water sources provide an average of 16 million gallons of water per day to the homes, businesses, industries and institutions of Santa Clara. In 2019, about 45% of our water was treated surface water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Wa ter), imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s (SFPUC) Hetch-Hetchy System, imported from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Water purchased from Valley Water serves the southwesterly portion of the City primarily SFPUC Hetch-Hetchy water typically serves the area north of Highway 101. The City’s system of 21 active wells supplies the remaining 55% of Santa Clara. The map shows the areas served by our three water sources.

CITY WELLS
More than half of water consumed in the City of Santa Clara is pumped from the City’s system of deep wells. Well water is pulled up from groundwater (water that is located in aquifers which are water-filled spaces between sand, gravel, silt and clay) deep in the ground. Rainwater replenishes aquifers by rainwater infiltrating down into the ground.

HETCH HETCHY SYSTEM
The City purchases water from the Hetch Hetchy System. The San Francisco Regional Water System (SFRWS) conducts watershed sanitary surveys for the Hetch Hetchy source annually and for local water sources and Upcounty Non-Hetch Hetchy Sources (UNHHS) every five years. The latest local sanitary survey was completed in 2016 for the period of 2011-2015. The last watershed sanitary survey for UNHHS was conducted in 2015 as part of SFRWS’s drought-response plan. All these surveys, together with the stringent watershed protection management activities, were completed by SFRWS with support from partner agencies, including National Park Service and US Forest Service. The purposes of the surveys ar e to evaluate the sanitary conditions and water quality of the watersheds and to review the results of watershed management activities conducted in the preceding years. Wildlife, stock, and human activities continue to be the potential contamination sources. Contact the San Francisco District Office of the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (SWRCB-DDW) at 510-620-3474 to review the reports.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
The Santa Clara Valley Water District, also rebranded as Valley Water, provides treated surface water to the Silicon Valley from three water treatment plants.

Valley Water imports the majority of the surface water from the South Bay Aqueduct, Dyer Reservoir, Lake Del Valle, and San Luis Reservoir, which all draw water from the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta watershed. Valley Water’s local water sources include Anderson and Calero Reservoirs.

Valley Water’s source waters are vulnerable to potential contamination from a variety of land-use practices, such as agricultural and urban runoff, recreational activities, livestock grazing, and residential and industrial development. The imported sources are also vulnerable to wastewater treatment plant discharges, seawater intrusion, and wildfires in open space areas. Local sources are also vulnerable to potential contamination from commercial stables and historic mining practices. No contaminant associated with any of these activities were detected in Valley Water’s treated water.

The water treatment plants provide multiple barriers for the physical removal of contaminants and disinfection of pathogens. For more information, visit Valley Water’s website at
valleywater.org
SFPUC Hetch
Hetchy Systema SCVWD Treated
Surface Water
c
City of Santa Clara
Groundwater
b
City of Santa Clara, California
Q: Is fluoride added to our water?
A: Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter. Fluoridation adjusts the naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water to the ideal level for protecting your teeth.

Fluoridated drinking water benefits people of all ages by preventing tooth decay.

In November of 2005, the SFPUC Hetch Hetchy system completed construction of a fluoridation facility in the East Bay. The water purchased by the City from the SFPUC is fluoridated, while water from Valley Water is not fluoridated. If your zip code is 95054, you are in the area receiving fluoridated water. However, this area is also served by well water that has not been fluoridated. Refer to the map in this CCR that shows the area supplied with water from both the Hetch-Hetchy system and the City’s wells. Most of the City will continue to receive water without fluoride added.

State law requires the addition of fluoride to all water systems in California serving 10,000 customers or more. In 2021, Valley Water plans to add fluoridation to the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant, which services the southern part of Santa Clara. Fluoridation of the remaining water sources in the City would require the installation of fluoride injecting equipment at each of the City’s 21 active wells. The law includes a provision for state funds to finance this fluoridation equipment; however, it may be some time before the state can provide funding to move forward with a fluoridation program for the remainder of the City.

Contact your health provider if you have concerns about dental fluorosis. For additional information about fluoridation or oral health, visit the CDC website

cdc.gov/fluoridation or the State Water Board websit e waterboards.ca.gov/ drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/Fluoridation.shtml.

Some Santa Clara Water
is Flouridated
Water Quality Monitoring

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DRINKING WATER SOURCE
ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION PROGRAM:

A copy of the DWSAP is available at the City’s Water Utility offices at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara. To request a summary of the individual assessments, contact the Water Utility at 408-615-2000 or by email at [email protected].

The City’s groundwater sources are considered most vulnerable to contamination by leaking underground tank s containing fuel or dry-cleaning chemicals; old, unrecorded septic systems; storm drain dry wells located at various places around the City; many old, shallow, private wells, abandoned and not correctly destroyed; and possibly some contaminants from a small landfill dump left over from the early years of the 20th century.

(continued on next page)
0 1/2 1
PAGE 3 | THE ANNUAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT | SUMMER 2020 LEAD
There have been no exceedances of the ACTION LEVEL for lead in the City of Santa Clara groundwater sources or supplies purchased from other agencies.

It is possible for lead levels in your home to be higher than other houses in the community because of plumbing materials used in the original construction of your home. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Santa Clara is responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.

Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at
epa.gov/lead.

SCHOOL LEAD TESTING
As of January 2018, State law requires water suppliers to sample all schools on public land by mid-2019. As of April 2019, City staff has completed all required sampling and provided results to the school districts following the testing. All samples except for one taken at John Sutter Elementary School were well below the EPA action level for lead of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The fixture was immediately taken out of service and replaced by SCUSD staff, resampling at the site resulted in a ND (non-detect) for lead. Please contact your school administrator for information about lead testing and results for your local school. For additional information visit:
waterboards.ca.gov/
drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/leadsamplinginschools.html “NITRATES” - INFORMATION ABOUT NITRATES IN
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES:

Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 mg/L is a health risk for infants less than six months old. Such nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in serious illness; symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, such as pregnant women and those with certain specific enzyme deficiencies. If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water resources:

Cryptosporidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract brought on by a parasitic microbe (a protozoan) called Cryptosporidium. The disease is transmitted through contaminated water, food or direct contact with human or animal waste. If you are healthy with a normal immune system, the flu-like symptoms usually last about two weeks. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, upset stomach and slight fever. However, immuno-compromised people, infants, small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life- threatening illness.

Giardia, another parasitic organism causing similar symptoms, is monitored with the same frequency and very low levels are occasionally detected in the same source waters.

The general public is at very low risk and there have been no reported cases of Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis attributed to the City’s public water supply.

This advisory applies to water received from the Hetch Hetchy system in the area of the City north of Highway 101. The CDPH issues guidance for people with serious immune system problems. Currently, available guidance from the state and county health agencies recommends that people with such conditions consult with their doctor or primary health care provider about preventing Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection from all potential sources.

Water consumers may choose to boil their drinking water at a rolling boil for at least one minute as an extra precaution.

For information about Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis, or copies of available guidance, contact the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health at 408-918-3400. You may also contact the USEPA Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Contaminants that occur in drinking water obtained from surface sources and underground sources:

Sources of drinking water (both tap wat er and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, that can be naturally- occurring or resulting from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming; • Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses; • Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals. that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems;
• Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that wa ter poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Ave.

Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-615-2200
SantaClaraCA.gov
Water Utility
1500 Warburton Ave.

Santa Clara, CA 95050
Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Monday-Friday
408-615-2000
Water Billing Questions
408-615-2300
Water Quality Report Questions
Diane Asuncion
408-615-2000
[email protected]
Water Emergencies
408-615-2000 Monday-Friday,
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
408-615-5640 other days and times
Water Conservation
Save20gallons.org
408-630-2554 – Water Conservation
Hotline and Rebate Information
Sign up for a free Water-Wise House
Call from Valley Water by calling
1-800-548-1882
Web Resources:

If you would like to learn more about drinking
water quality, treatment and regulation,
contact these organizations:

XXXOBMVTEBHPWGOJDXBUFS
Public Input
To provide input on decisions that affect
drinking water quality, contact the Santa Clara
City Council via mail, email or phone, or attend
a City Council meeting. A list of all City Council
meetings and agenda items are available on
the City website, SantaClaraCA.gov.
eNotify
Sign up to receive news from the Water Utility
SantaClaraCA.gov/enotify
For Additional Information On Water Quality
'HŔQLWLRQVDQG1RWHV
Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS) = MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) = The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG) = The level of
a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL (MRDL) = The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL GOAL (MRDLG) =
The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL (PHG) = The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

REGULATORY ACTION LEVEL (AL) = The concentration of a
contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

TREATMENT TECHNIQUE (TT) = A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS = Unregulated contaminant
monitoring helps EPA and State Water Resources Control Board to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether the contaminants need to be regulated.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) PPM = Parts Per Million
PPB = Parts Per Billion
P = Present
A = Absent
<DLR = less than Detection Limit for Reporting
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM = drinking water delivery system
RESIDENTIAL TAPS = household faucets used for lead and copper sampling DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS = chemical by products of disinfection SECONDARY STANDARDS = secondary MCLs are set to protect the aesthetics of drinking water
NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality.
uS/cm = microSiemens per centimeter
NA = not applicable or available
ND = not detected
NS = no standard
Copper and Lead Tap Monitoring was performed at 77 residential taps in September-October 2019.

HARDNESS = the sum of polyvalent cations present in the water, generally magnesium and calcium. The cations are usually naturally occurring.

SODIUM = refers to the salt present in the water and is generally naturally occurring.

Attention
This report contains important information about
your drinking water. Translate it, or speak with
someone who understands it.

Mahalaga ang impormasyong ito. Mangyaring ipasalin ito.

Attencion: Este informe contiene informacion muy
importante sobre su agua beber. Traduzcalo o hable con
alguien que lo entienda bien.
[1] Turbidity is measured every four hours. These are monthly average turbidity values. [2] The highest turbidity of the unfiltered Hetch Hetchy water in 2018 was 1.8 NTU. [3] John Sutter Elementary - 26ppb. Repeat sampling following plumbing repairs was non-detect for lead.

Business Resources
Consumer Information
pH UNITS NS NS 7.8 - 8 7.9 7.7 - 7.9 7.8 8.8 - 10.1 9.3 Alkalinity (as CaCO3) PPM NS NS 180 - 240 204.4 60 - 85 73 3.5 - 97 46 Ammonia (Total) PPM NS NS NA NA 0.48 - 0.56 0.52 NA NA
Bicarbonate Alkalinity (as HCO3) PPM NS NS 230 -290 247.8 73 - 104 89 NA NA Boron PPB NS NS NA NA 120 - 135 128 ND - 107 ND
Bromide PPM NS NS NA NA ND - 110 ND NA NA
Calcium (as Ca) PPM NS NS 56 - 90 73.3 20 - 25 22 3.3 - 20 12 Chlorate PPB NS NS NA NA 67 - 140 102 40 - 220 84
Hardness PPM NS NS 210 - 320 258.9 93 - 120 104 89 - 77 47 Hexavalent Chromium PPB NS 0.02 0.26 - 2.5 1.5 ND ND NA NA Magnesium PPM NS NS 17 - 23 18.9 12 - 15 13 0.2 - 6.6 4.2 Molybdenum PPB NS NS NA NA < 1 - 1 < 1 NA NA
Phosphate PPM NS NS NA NA 1.02 - 1.77 1.3 NA NA
Potassium PPM NS NS 1 - 1.3 1.1 2.1 - 3.4 2.7 0.3 - 1.2 0.8 Silica PPM NS NS NA NA 10 - 12 11 4.9 - 8 6.1
Sodium PPM NS NS 25 - 38 29 33 - 63 49 2.8 - 21 14
Strontium PPB NS NS NA NA NA NA 13 - 230 107
Temperature Deg. C NS NS 11.3 - 24 18 13 - 21 17 NA NA
Total Organic Carbon PPM NS NS NA NA 1.37 - 2.33 1.96 1.6 - 2.7 2.1 < 3 - 17 8.7 runoff/leaching nat 'l deposits/seawater
Color UNITS 15 NA ND ND ND ND < 5 - 10 < 5 naturally occuring organic material Manganese PPB 50 NA ND - 2.4 0.3 ND ND ND ND leaching from natural deposits Odor UNITS 3 NA ND - 1 ‘ 1 1 ND ND naturally occuring organic material Sp. Conductance uS/cm 1600 NA 670 - 780 655.6 365 - 517 445 32 - 234 158 subst.forming ions/seawater intrusion Sulfate PPM 500 NA 29 - 48 37.1 52 - 62 58 1 - 29 15 runoff/leaching nat 'l deposits/ind. waste Tot.Dissolved Solids PPM 1000 NA 340 - 440 382.2 240 - 292 265 < 20 - 119 76 runoff/leaching from natural deposits Turbidity NTU 5 NA ND - 0.31 0.1 0.01 - 0.51 0.04 0.3 - 0.7 (1) [2.1](2) soil runoff
Secondary Standards: “Consumer Acceptance Contaminent Levels” Aluminum PPB 500 NA ND ND ND ND ND-68 ND natural deposits/treatment process Chloride PPM 500 NA 31 - 69 48 27 - 72 51
Chlorodifluoromethane PPB
Units
ND - 0.58
Range Average

0.1 Chlorate PPB ND - 220 78.1
Chromium PPB ND - 4.9 0.6
Hexavalent Chromium PPB ND - 4.1 1
Molybdenum PPB ND - 5.0 0.9
Strontium PPB ND - 440 150
Vanadium PPB ND - 5.3 1.5
Manganese PPB ND - 8.8 1.1
Total Haleoacetic Acids (9) PPB ND - 58 23.6
Notification Level
NA
NA
800
NA
NA
NA
NA
50 50
Unregulated Contaminants as Measured in City of Santa Clara Distribution System:
giardia lamblia cyst/L TT 0 NA NA ND ND ND - 0.09 0.02 naturally present in environment Gross Alpha pCi/L 15 (0) ND-5 0.9 ND ND ND ND erosion of natural deposits Barium PPM 1 2 0.088 - 0.14 0.1 ND ND ND ND erosion of nat 'l deposit/oil drilling Chromium PPB 50 (100) ND - 1.4 0.3 ND ND ND ND erosion of nat 'l deposit/plating Fluoride PPM 2 1 0.13 - 0.18 0.1 ND - 0.13 ND ND - 0.9 0.3 water additive/erosion of nat 'l deposits Nitrate (as Nitrogen) PPM 10 10 0.38 - 5.9 3.7 ND - 0.5 ND ND ND erosion of nat 'l deposit/runoff/leaching

MICROBIOLOGICAL

RADIOACTIVITY

INORGANIC CHEMICAL
Primary Standards for Source Water Sampling:

UNIT range average range average range average
or [max]
State PHG/
Fed (MCLG)
analysis for
City SC Well Water
analysis for
4$78BUFS%JTUSJDU
analysis for

HETCH HETCHY
Common Sources of:

Total Coliform % pos (+) 5.00% (0) 0 - 1.4% < 5% naturally present in environment Trihalomethanes PPB 80 NA 0 -64 [45.3] byproduct of drinking water disinfection Haloacetic Acids PPB 60 NA 0 - 47 [31.5 byproduct of drinking water disinfection Chlorine residual PPM 4 4 0.0 - 3.5 1.22 drinking water disinfectant Copper PPM AL = 1.3 0.3 90th percentile = 0.28ppm Number Exceeded = 0 corrosion of plumbing systems Lead PPB AL = 15 0.2 90th percentile = ND Number Exceeded = 0 corrosion of plumbing systems Lead PPB AL = 15 0.2 90th percentile = ND Number Exceeded = 1 (3) corrosion of plumbing systems SCHOOLS REQUESTING LEAD TESTING IN 2018: 33 SCHOOLS (172 SAMPLES TAKEN) INORGANIC CHEMICAL AS MEASURED AT 77 RESIDENTIAL TAPS IN 2019:

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS, RESIDUALS, PRECURSORS
Primary Standards as Measured in City of Santa Clara Distribution System:

Units MCL State MCL
(Fed PHG)
Range Average Common Sources of:

MICROBIOLOGICAL
City of Santa Clara

WATER QUALITY TABLEWATER QUALITY TABLE

Each year we publish our annual water quality report known as the Consumer Confidence Report (report). It contains the latest water quality monitoring results obtained through the end of calendar year 2020. It answers some of the most common water quality questions asked by our customers. We hope it will provide the facts and perspectives you need to make an informed evaluation of your tap water.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State
Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

To simplify the report, only the constituents that were detected in at least one water source appear in the water quality table. We are also required by the State to provide additional information about certain constituents that appear on the water quality table even though the water meets all applicable drinking water standards. The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.

Report
Contains Water
Quality Monitoring
Results
The City of Santa Clara is committed to
providing our customers with a safe and
reliable supply of high-quality drinking water.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.

Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

INFORMATION

AND GUIDANCE

FOR PEOPLE WITH

COMPROMISED
IMMUNE SYSTEMS:

Drinking Water Must Meet Standards
The quality of drinking water is carefully regulated by the Federal Government. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring the USEPA to establish uniform standards for drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act was further amended in 1986 and 1996, adding even more stringent standards. In California, these standards are enforced by State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.

PRIMARY STANDARDS are designed to protect public health.

These standards specify the limits, called "Maximum Contaminant Levels" (MCLs) for substances in water that may be harmful to humans or affect their health if consumed in large quantities.

SECONDARY STANDARDS are based on aesthetic qualities of water such as color, taste and odor. These standards specify limits for substances that may affect consumer acceptance of the water.

Both Primary and Secondary Standards are listed in
this report.

It is important to the City of Santa Clara that you, the water consumer, have current and factual information about your water supply. In this latest issue of our report, we hope to further your understanding and strengthen your confidence in the quality and integrity of the water supplied to you by the City of Santa Clara.

We take great pride in delivering the safest and highest quality water available.

Primary Standards For Source Water Sampling: or [max]

MICROBIOLOGICAL
giardia lamblia cyst/L TT 0 NA NA ND - 0.1 ND 0 - 0.05 0.01 naturally present in environment

RADIOACTIVITY
Gross Alpha pCi/L 15 (0) ND ND ND ND ND ND erosion of natural deposits

INORGANIC CHEMICAL
Arsenic PPB 10 0.04 ND - 1.7 0.4 ND ND ND ND erosion of nat'l deposit/runoff Barium PPM 1 2 0.09 - 0.18 0.1 ND ND ND ND erosion of nat'l deposit/oil drilling Chromium PPB 50 (100) ND - 3.6 1.9 ND ND ND ND erosion of nat'l deposit/plating Fluoride PPM 2 1 0.09 - 0.14 0.1 ND - .11 ND ND - 0.7 0.3 water additive/erosion of nat'l deposits Nitrate (as Nitrogen) PPM 10 10 0.52 - 6.1 4.0 ND - 0.8 ND ND ND erosion of nat'l deposit/runoff/leaching Secondary Standards: "Consumer Acceptance Contaminent Levels" Chloride PPM 500 NA 35 - 52 43.3 56 - 66 61 < 3 - 15 8.7 runoff/leaching nat'l deposits/seawater Color UNITS 15 NA ND ND ND ND ND ND naturally occuring organic material Manganese PPB 50 NA ND - 14 3.5 ND ND ND ND leaching from natural deposits Odor UNITS 3 NA ND ND 1 1 ND ND naturally occuring organic material Sp. Conductance uS/cm 1600 NA 560 - 690 602.5 473 - 534 504 30 - 260 160 subst.forming ions/seawater intrusion Sulfate PPM 500 NA 41 - 57 50.5 60 - 73 66 1 - 34 17 runoff/leaching nat'l deposits/ind. waste Tot.Dissolved Solids PPM 1000 NA 350 - 380 357.5 268 - 326 297 < 20 - 137 72 runoff/leaching from natural deposits Turbidity NTU 5 NA ND - 0.39 0.2 .02 - .12 0.04 0.2 - 0.5 (1) [1.3](2) soil runoff Consumer Information
pH UNITS NS NS 7.8 - 7.9 7.85 7.6 - 8.0 7.8 8.6 - 9.8 9.3 Alkalinity (as CaCO3) PPM NS NS 180 - 220 197.5 66 - 86 74 6.7 - 138 55 Ammonia (Total) PPM NS NS NA NA 0.45 - 0.56 0.51 NA NA
Bicarbonate Alkalinity (as HCO3) PPM NS NS 220 - 270 240 81 - 104 93 NA NA Boron PPB NS NS NA NA 134 - 205 159 NA NA
Bromide PPB NS NS NA NA ND - 110 ND NA NA
Calcium (as Ca) PPM NS NS 60 - 74 66.3 20 - 23 21 2.9 - 22 12 Chlorate PPB NS NS NA NA 78 - 279 155 67-1200 262
Hardness PPM NS NS 220 - 300 255 98 - 111 104 8.0 - 79 45 Hexavalent Chromium PPB NS 0.02 0.11 - 3.4 2 ND ND NA NA Magnesium PPM NS NS 16 - 31 21.8 11 - 12 12 0.2 - 6.8 4 Molybdenum PPB NS NS NA NA 1.9 1.9 NA NA
Phosphate PPM NS NS NA NA 1.09 - 1.19 1.14 NA NA
Potassium PPM NS NS ND - 1 0.3 2.7 - 3.2 2.9 0.3 - 1.3 0.8 Silica PPM NS NS NA NA 8 - 13 10 2.8 - 7 4.8
Sodium PPM NS NS 23 - 41 28 52 - 63 56 2.4 - 22 14
Strontium PPB NS NS NA NA NA NA 14 - 242 110
Temperature Deg. C NS NS 10.4 - 25 19 13 - 22 18 NA NA
Total Organic Carbon PPM NS NS NA NA 1.4 - 2.4 1.9 1.7 - 3.4 2.9 Primary Standards As Measured In City Of Santa Clara Distribution System:

Units MCL State MCL Range Average Common Sources of:

MICROBIOLOGICAL (Fed PHG)
Total Coliform % pos (+) 5.00% (0) 0 - 1.1% < 5% naturally present in environment

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS, RESIDUALS, PRECURSORS
Trihalomethanes PPB 80 NA 0 - 45 [28] byproduct of drinking water disinfection Haloacetic Acids PPB 60 NA 0 - 29 [14.6] byproduct of drinking water disinfection Chlorine residual PPM 4 4 0.0 - 3.2 1.07 drinking water disinfectant INORGANIC CHEMICAL as measured at 77 Residential Taps in 2019:

Copper PPM AL = 1.3 0.3 90th percentile = 0.28ppm Number Exceeded = 0 corrosion of plumbing systems Lead PPB AL = 15 0.2 90th percentile = ND Number Exceeded = 0 corrosion of plumbing systems SCHOOLS REQUESTING LEAD TESTING IN 2018: 33 Schools (172 samples taken) Lead PPB AL = 15 0.2 90th percentile = ND Number Exceeded = 1 (3) corrosion of plumbing systems Unregulated Contaminants As Measured In City Of Santa Clara Distribution System:

Units Notification Level Range Average
Chlorodifluoromethane PPB NA ND - 0.58 0.1
Chlorate PPB 800 ND - 98 38.1
Chromium PPB NA ND - 4.9 0.8
Hexavalent Chromium PPB NA ND - 4.1 1.5
Molybdenum PPB NA ND - 3.7 1.0
Strontium PPB NA ND - 430 157.5
Vanadium PPB 50 ND - 5.3 2.1
Manganese PPB 50 ND - 20 1.6
Total Haleoacetic Acids (9) PPB NA ND - 58 23.6
City of Santa Clara

WATER QUALITY TABLE
(1) Turbidity is measured every four hours. These are monthly average turbidity values. (2) The highest turbidity of the unfiltered Hetch Hetchy water in 2020 was 1.3 NTU. (3) John Sutter Elementary - 26ppb. Repeat sampling following plumbing repairs was non-detect for lead. 'HŔQLWLRQVDQG1RWHV
Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS) = MCLs and
MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) = The highest level
of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as
is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG) = The
level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL (MRDL) =
The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL GOAL
(MRDLG) = The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL (PHG) = The level of a contaminant
in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

REGULATORY ACTION LEVEL (AL) = The concentration of a
contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

TREATMENT TECHNIQUE (TT) = A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS = Unregulated
contaminant monitoring helps EPA and State Water Resources Control Board to determine where certain contaminants
occur and whether the contaminants need to be regulated. pCi/L = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) PPM = Parts Per Million
PPB = Parts Per Billion
P = Present
A = Absent
<DLR = less than Detection Limit for Reporting
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM = drinking water delivery system
RESIDENTIAL TAPS = household faucets used for lead and
copper sampling
DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS = chemical by products of
disinfection
SECONDARY STANDARDS = secondary MCLs are set to
protect the aesthetics of drinking water
NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality.
uS/cm = microSiemens per centimeter
NA = not applicable or available
ND = not detected
NS = no standard
Copper and Lead Tap Monitoring was performed at 77
residential taps in September-October 2019.

HARDNESS = the sum of polyvalent cations present in the water, generally magnesium and calcium. The cations are usually naturally occurring.

SODIUM = refers to the salt present in the water and is generally naturally occurring.

Attention
This report contains important information about
your drinking water. Translate it, or speak with
someone who understands it.

Mahalaga ang impormasyong ito. Mangyaring ipasalin ito.

Attencion: Este informe contiene informacion muy
importante sobre su agua beber. Traduzcalo o hable con
alguien que lo entienda bien.

Water Quality
Consumer
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Report
2021
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Q: Where does our water come from?
A: The City of Santa Clara has three separate sources of drinking water. Often, these sources are used interchangeably or are blended together. Altogether these sources provide an average of 16 million gallons of water per day to the homes, businesses, industries and institutions of Santa Clara. In 2020,
about 41% of our water was treated surface water
purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water
District (Valley Water), imported from the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and from the
San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s
(SFPUC) Hetch-Hetchy System, imported
from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Water purchased from Valley Water serves
primarily the southwesterly portion of the
City. SFPUC Hetch-Hetchy water typically
serves the area north of Highway 101. The
remaining 59% is pumped from the City’s
system of 21 active wells serving the rest of
Santa Clara. The map shows the general areas
served by the different water sources.

CITY WELLS
The majority of water consumed in the City of Santa Clara is pumped from the City’s system of deep wells. Well water is pulled up from groundwater (water that is located in aquifers which are waterfilled spaces between sand, gravel, silt and clay) deep in the ground. Aquifers are replenished by rainwater that infiltrates down from the land surface..HETCH HETCHY SYSTEM
The City purchases water from the Hetch Hetchy System. The San Francisco Regional Water System (SFRWS) conducts watershed sanitary surveys for the Hetch Hetchy source annually and for non- Hetch Hetchy surface water sources (UNHHS) every five years. The latest sanitary surveys for the non-Hetch Hetchy watersheds were completed in 2021 for the period of 2016-2020. All these surveys together with our stringent watershed protection management activities were completed with support from partner agencies including National Park Service and US Forest Service.

The purposes of the surveys are to evaluate the sanitary conditions and water quality of the watersheds and to review results of watershed management activities conducted in the preceding years. Wildlife, stock, and human activities continue to be the potential contamination sources. You may contact
the San Francisco District office of the State Water
Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking
Water (SWRCB-DDW) at 510-620-3474 for the
review of these reports.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now
Valley Water, provides treated surface water to
local municipalities and private water retailers
who deliver the water directly to homes and
businesses in Santa Clara County. Valley Water’s
surface water is mainly imported from the South
Bay Aqueduct, Dyer Reservoir, Lake Del Valle, and
San Luis Reservoir, which all draw water from the
Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta watershed. Valley Water’s local water sources include Anderson and Calero Reservoirs.

Water from imported and local sources is pumped to and treated at three water treatment plants located in Santa Clara County.

Valley Water’s source waters are vulnerable to potential contamination from a variety of land use practices, such as agricultural and urban runoff, recre ational activities, livestock grazing, and residential and industrial development. The imported sources are also vulnerable to wastewater treatment plant discharges, seawater intrusion, and wildfires in open space areas. In addition, local sources are also vulnerable to potential contamination from commercial stables and historic mining practices. No contaminant associated with any of these activities has been detected in Valley Water’s treated water. The water treatment plants provide multiple barriers for physical removal of contaminants and disinfection of pathogens. For more information, visit Valley Water’s website at
www.valleywater.org.

THE CITY OF

SANTA CLARA

HAS THREE SEPARATE

SOURCES OF
DRINKING WATER.

Q: Is fluoride added to our water?
A: Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter. Fluoridation adjusts the naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water to the ideal level for protecting your teeth. Fluoridated drinking water benefits people of all ages by preventing tooth decay.

In November of 2005, the SFPUC Hetch Hetchy system completed construction of a fluoridation facility in the east bay. The water purchased by the City from the SFPUC is fluoridated, while water from Valley Water is not fluoridated. If your zip code is 95054, you are in the area receiving fluoridated water. However, this area is also served by well water that has not been fluoridated. Refer to the map that shows the area supplied with water from both the Hetch- Hetchy system and the City’s wells. The majority of the City will continue to receive water without added fluoride.

State law requires the addition of fluoride to all water systems in California serving 10,000 customers or more. In 2025, Valley Water plans to add fluoridation to the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant which services the southern portion of Santa Clara. Fluoridation of the remaining water sources in the City would require installation of fluoride injecting equipment at each of the City's 21 active wells. The law includes a provision for state funds to finance this fluoridation equipment; however; it may be some time before the state can provide funding to move forward with a fluoridation program for the remainder of the City.

Contact your health provider if you have concerns about dental fluorosis. For additional information about fluoridation or oral health, visit the CDC website www.cdc.gov/fluoridation or the State Water Board website
www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/
drinkingwater/Fluoridation.shtml.

Some Santa Clara Water
is Flouridated
Water Quality Monitoring

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DRINKING WATER SOURCE
ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION PROGRAM:

The City completed a Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) Program for the groundwater sources. The DWSAP was completed in August 2002 and submitted to the State Water Board in December 2002. A copy of the DWSAP is available at the City's Water Utility offices at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara. You may request a summary of the individual assessments by contacting the Water Utility at (408) 615-2000 or by email at [email protected].

The City's groundwater sources are considered most vulnerable to contamination by leaking underground tanks containing fuel or dry- cleaning chemicals; old, unrecorded septic systems; storm drain dry wells located at various places around the City; many old, shallow, private wells, abandoned and not properly destroyed; and possibly some contaminants from a small landfill dump left over from the early years of the 20th century.LEAD
There have been no exceedances of the ACTION LEVEL for lead in the City of Santa Clara groundwater sources or supplies purchased from other agencies. It is possible for lead levels in your home to be higher than other homes in the community because of plumbing materials used in the original construction of your home. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Santa Clara is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/lead.

SCHOOL LEAD TESTING
As of January 2018 State law requires water suppliers to sample all schools on public land by mid-2019. As of April 2019, City staff has completed all required sampling and provided results to the school districts following the testing. All samples with the exception of one sample taken at John Sutter Elementary School were well below the EPA action level for lead of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The fixture was immediately taken out of service and replaced by SCUSD staff, resampling at the site resulted in a ND (non-detect) for lead.

Please contact your school administrator for information about lead testing and results for your local school. For additional information visit:
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/
drinkingwater/leadsamplinginschools.html
“NITRATES” - INFORMATION ABOUT NITRATES IN

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 mg/L is a health risk for infants less than six months old. Such nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in serious illness; symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, such as pregnant women and those with certain specific enzyme deficiencies.

If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

PFAS
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as “PFAS” are a group of chemicals that have been widely used in industrial applications and consumer products such as carpets, clothing, furniture fabrics, paper packaging for food, firefighting foams, and other materials including waterproof/stain resistant/ nonstick cookware. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are two common types of PFAS. The City has completed monitoring for PFAS compounds at select well sites based on proximity to a potential source of contamination (airports which are known to have used aqueous film foaming agents for fire suppression and training). No PFAS compounds have been detected.CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND GIARDIA IN WATER RESOURCES:

Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, upset stomach and slight fever. However, immuno-compromised people, infants, small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life- threatening illness.

The water purchased by the City from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Hetch Hetchy system has been tested for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The source waters and treated waters are tested at least monthly and occasionally show very low levels of Cryptosporidium in the waters serving the East Bay, South Bay and San Francisco Peninsula. Giardia, another parasitic organism causing similar symptoms, is monitored with the same frequency and very low levels are occasionally detected in the same source waters.

The general public is at very low risk and there have been no reported cases of Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis attributed to the City’s public water supply. This advisory applies to water received from the Hetch Hetchy system in the area of the City north of Highway 101.

The CDPH issues guidance for people with serious immune system problems. Currently, available guidance from the state and county health agencies recommends that people with such conditions consult with their doctor or primary health care provider about preventing Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection from all potential sources. Water consumers may choose to boil their drinking water at a rolling boil for at least one minute as an extra precaution.

For information about Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis, or copies of available guidance, contact the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health at 408 918-3400. You may also contact the USEPA Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

CONTAMINANTS THAT OCCUR IN DRINKING WATER

OBTAINED FROM SURFACE SOURCES AND UNDERGROUND
SOURCES:

Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells.

As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or resulting from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming;
• Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses; • Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals. that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems; • Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Ave.

Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-615-2200
SantaClaraCA.gov
Water Utility
1500 Warburton Ave.

Santa Clara, CA 95050
Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Monday-Friday
408-615-2000
Water Billing Questions
408-615-2300
Water Quality Report Questions
Diane Asuncion
408-615-2000
[email protected]
Water Emergencies
408-615-2000 Monday-Friday,
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
408-615-5640 other days and times
Valley Water Water Conservation
Save20gallons.org
408-630-2554 – Water Conservation
Hotline and Rebate Information
Sign up for a free Water-Wise House
Call from Valley Water by calling
1-800-548-1882
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If you would like to learn more about drinking
water quality, treatment and regulation,
contact these organizations:

American Water Works Association:
awwa.org
State Water Resources Control Board,
Division of Drinking Water:
waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/
programs/index.shtml
United States Environmental
Protection Agency:
water.epa.gov/drink
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission,
Water Quality Bureau:
sfwater.org
Valley Water:
valleywater.org
Water Education Foundation:
watereducation.org
Water Quality Information Center:
http://wqic.nal.usda.gov/
Public Input
To provide input on decisions that affect
drinking water quality, provide input to the
Santa Clara City Council at a Council meeting
or in advance to mayorandcouncil@
santaclaraca.gov or call 408-615-2250. A
list of all City Council meetings, agenda items
and study sessions can be viewed on the City
website SantaClaraCA.gov.
eNotify
Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/eNews to sign up to
receive news from Water Utility.
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Each year we publish our annual water quality report known as the Consumer Confidence Report (report). It contains the latest water quality monitoring results obtained through the end of calendar year 2021. It answers some of the most common water quality questions asked by our customers. We hope it will provide the facts and perspectives you need to make an informed evaluation of your tap water.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and State
regulations. Although the water you receive is tested for over 100 potential contaminants and 48 other parameters, the majority of the potential contaminants are never detected. To simplify the report, only the constituents that were detected in at least one water source appear in the water quality table. We are also required by the State to provide additional information about certain constituents that appear on the water quality table even though the water meets all applicable drinking water standards. The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because
the concentrations of these contaminants do not change
frequently. Due to regulatory monitoring schedules, some data, though representative, are more than one year old. 5HSRUW
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Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.

Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

INFORMATION

AND GUIDANCE

FOR PEOPLE WITH

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The quality of drinking water is carefully regulated by the Federal Government. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring the USEPA to establish uniform standards for drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act was further amended in 1986 and 1996, adding even more stringent standards. In California, these standards are enforced by State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.

PRIMARY STANDARDS are designed to protect public health.

These standards specify the limits, called "Maximum Contaminant Levels" (MCLs) for substances in water that may be harmful to humans or affect their health if consumed in large quantities.

SECONDARY STANDARDS are based on aesthetic qualities of water such as color, taste and odor. These standards specify limits for substances that may affect consumer acceptance of the water.

Both Primary and Secondary Standards are listed in
this report.

We take great pride in delivering the safest and highest quality water available.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. 6RXUFH:DWHU,QIRUPDWLRQ
Q: Where does our water come from?
A: The City of Santa Clara has three
separate sources of drinking water. Often,
these sources are used interchangeably
or are blended together. Altogether these
sources provide an average of 16 million
gallons of water per day to the homes,
businesses, industries and institutions
of Santa Clara. In 2021, about 43% of
our water was treated surface water
purchased from the Santa Clara Valley
Water District (Valley Water), imported
from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,
and from the San Francisco Public Utility
Commission’s (SFPUC) Hetch-Hetchy
Reservoir, imported from the Sierra Nevada
Mountains.

Water purchased from Valley Water
serves primarily the southwesterly
portion of the City. SFPUC Hetch-Hetchy
water typically serves the area north
of Highway 101. The remaining 57% is
pumped from the City’s system of 19
active wells serving the rest of Santa
Clara. The map shows the general areas
served by the different water sources.

HETCH HETCHY SYSTEM
The City purchases water from the Hetch
Hetchy Reservior. To meet drinking water
standards for consumption, all surface
water supplies including the upcountry
non-Hetch Hetchy sources (UNHHS)
undergo treatment by the SFRWS before
it is delivered. Water from Hetch Hetchy
Reservoir is exempt from federal and state
filtration requirements but receives the following
treatment: disinfection using ultraviolet light
and chlorine, pH adjustment for optimum
corrosion control, fluoridation for dental health
protection, and chloramination for maintaining
disinfectant residual and minimizing the
formation of regulated disinfection byproducts.

Water from local Bay Area reservoirs in Alameda
County and UNHHS is delivered to Sunol Valley
Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP); whereas water
from local reservoirs in San Mateo County is
delivered to Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant
(HTWTP). Water treatment at these plants
consist of filtration, disinfection, fluoridation,
optimum corrosion control, and taste and odor
removal. In 2021, no UNHHS water was used.

The SFRWS conducts watershed sanitary
surveys for the Hetch Hetchy source annually
and for non-Hetch Hetchy surface water
sources every five year s. The latest sanitary
surveys for the non-Hetch Hetchy watersheds
were completed in 2021 for the period of
2016-2020. All these surveys, together with
SFRWS’s stringent watershed protection
management activities, were completed with
support from partner agencies including
National Park Service and US Forest Service.

The purposes of the surveys are to evaluate
the sanitary conditions and water quality
of the watersheds and to review results of
watershed management activities conducted
in the preceding years. Wildfire, wildlife,
livestock, and human activities continue to be
the potential contamination sources. You may
contact the San Francisco District office of the
State Water Resources Control Board’s Division
of Drinking Water (SWRCB) at 510-620-3474
for the review of these reports.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now
Valley Water, provides treated surface water to
local municipalities and private water retailers
who deliver the water directly to homes and
businesses in Santa Clara County. Valley Water’s
surface water is mainly imported from the South
Bay Aqueduct, Dyer Reservoir, Lake Del Valle,
and San Luis Reservoir, which all draw water
from the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta
watershed. Valley Water’s local water sources
include Anderson and Calero Reservoirs.

Anderson Reservoir was out of service for
the Anderson Seismic Retrofit project and
was not used to supply the treatments plants
in 2021. Water from imported and local
sources is pumped to and treated at three
water treatment plants located in Santa Clara
County.

Valley Water’s source waters are vulnerable
to potential contamination from a variety of
land use practices, such as agricultural and
urban runoff, recreational activities, livestock
grazing, and residential and industrial
development. The imported sources are
also vulnerable to wastewater treatment
plant discharges, seawater intrusion, and
wildfires in open space areas. In addition,
local sources are also vulnerable to potential
contamination from commercial stables and
historic mining practices. No contaminant
associated with any of these activities has
been detected in Valley Water’s treated
water. The water treatment plants provide
multiple barriers for physical removal of
contaminants and disinfection of pathogens.

For more information, visit Valley Water’s
website at
www.valleywater.org.

WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
In an effort to continually maintain a high
level of service and supply quality potable
water to our customers, the City embarked
on several condition enhancement projects
to our water system. In March 2022, a project
was completed to rehabilitate three water
tanks located at 200 Lawrence Express-
way. These tanks store 13.2 million gallons of
water, enough water to meet the entire City’s
demand for one average spring day. The
scope of work involved structurally reinforc-
ing and recoating the tanks to ensure unin-
terrupted water for potable, fire suppression,
emergency, and operational supply.
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analysis for
HETCH HETCHYState PHG/
Fed (MCLG)UNIT MCL range average range average range average Common Sources of:

Primary Standards For Source Water Sampling: or [max]

MICROBIOLOGICAL
giardia lamblia cyst/L TT 0 NA NA ND - 0.1 ND 0 - 0.04 0.01 naturally present in environment

RADIOACTIVITY
Gross Alpha pCi/L 15 (0) ND ND ND ND ND ND erosion of natural deposits

INORGANIC CHEMICAL
Barium PPM 1 2 ND - 0.17 0.12 ND ND ND ND erosion of nat'l deposit/oil drilling Fluoride PPM 2 1 0.12 - 0.16 0.14 ND ND ND - 0.8 0.4] (1) water additive/erosion of nat'l deposits Nitrate (as Nitrogen) PPM 10 10 0.87 - 5.9 3.8 ND - 0.44 0.44 ND ND erosion of nat'l deposit/runoff/leaching Secondary Standards: "Consumer Acceptance Contaminent Levels" Chloride PPM 500 NA 20 - 49 38 84 - 103 94 < 3 - 11 6.7 runoff/leaching nat'l deposits/seawater Color UNITS 15 NA ND - 2 ND < 2.5 < 2.5 NA NA naturally occuring organic material Odor UNITS 3 NA ND - 1 ND 1 1 ND ND naturally occuring organic material Sp. Conductance uS/cm 1600 NA 463 - 802 609 604 - 684 652 34 - 217 135 subst.forming ions/seawater intrusion Sulfate PPM 500 NA 26 - 70 42 74.4 - 100.1 82.8 1.1 - 29 13 runoff/leaching nat'l deposits/ind. waste Tot.Dissolved Solids PPM 1000 NA 56 - 520 370 362 - 392 378 < 20 - 96 52 runoff/leaching from natural deposits Turbidity NTU 5 NA 0.1 - 3.7 0.73 ND - 0.10 0.1 0.2 - 0.4 (2) [3.3] soil runoff
Consumer Information
pH UNITS NS NS 7.5 - 7.8 7.7 7.7 - 7.8 7.8 8.6 - 9.7 9.2 Alkalinity (as CaCO3) PPM NS NS 147 - 249 204 69 - 82 77 4.5 - 79 37 Ammonia (Total) PPM NS NS NA NA 0.48 - 0.53 0.50 ND ND
Bicarbonate Alkalinity (as HCO3) PPM NS NS 147 - 249 204 85 - 101 95 ND ND Boron PPB NS NS NA NA 171 - 233 197 ND - 123 ND
Bromide PPB NS NS NA NA 130 - 180 150 ND ND
Calcium (as Ca) PPM NS NS 43 - 100 65.9 22.4 - 26.0 24.0 3 - 17 9.5 Chlorate PPB NS NS NA NA 111 - 135 122 28 -.420]
(3) 162
Hardness PPM NS NS 170 - 390 263 111 - 132 120 7.7 - 60 34 Hexavalent Chromium PPB NS 0.02 0.3 - 4.1 1.47 ND ND NA NA Magnesium PPM NS NS 14 - 32 21 13.4 - 16.2 14.6 < 0.2 - 5.5 2.9 Phosphate PPM NS NS NA NA 1.03 - 1.12 1.09 < 0.3 - 0.3 < 0.3 Potassium PPM NS NS 1.1 - 1.5 1.2 3.4 - 4.5 4.1 0.4 - 1.1 0.7 Silica PPM NS NS NA NA 10 - 14 13 3 - 5.9 4.8
Sodium PPM NS NS 21 - 42 33 71 - 87 78 3.1 - 17 12
Strontium PPB NS NS NA NA NA NA 14 - 181 83
Temperature Deg. C NS NS 10.5 - 25.4 18.5 15 - 22 19 NA NA Total Organic Carbon PPM NS NS NA NA 1.47 - 2.13 1.9 1.2 - 2.2 1.8 Vanadium PPB NS NS NA NA ND - 3 [3] NA NA
Primary Standards As Measured In City Of Santa Clara Distribution System:

Units MCL State MCL Range Average Common Sources of:

MICROBIOLOGICAL (Fed PHG)
Total Coliform % pos (+) 5.00% (0) 0 - 0.6% < 5% naturally present in environment Fecal Coliform and E.coli (4) # of pos (+) 0 0 0 0

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS, RESIDUALS, PRECURSORS
Trihalomethanes PPB 80 NA ND - 43 [38.5] byproduct of drinking water disinfection Haloacetic Acids PPB 60 NA ND - 42 [33] byproduct of drinking water disinfection Chlorine residual PPM 4 4 0.0 - 3.7 1.15 drinking water disinfectant INORGANIC CHEMICAL as measured at 77 Residential Taps in 2019:

Copper PPM AL = 1.3 0.3 90th percentile = 0.28ppm Number Exceeded = 0 corrosion of plumbing systems Lead PPB AL = 15 0.2 90th percentile = ND Number Exceeded = 0 corrosion of plumbing systems SCHOOLS REQUESTING LEAD TESTING IN 2018: 33 Schools (172 samples taken) Lead PPB AL = 15 0.2 90th percentile = ND Number Exceeded = 1 (5) corrosion of plumbing systems Unregulated Contaminants As Measured In City Of Santa Clara Distribution System:

Units Notification Level Range Average
Manganese PPB 500 ND - 8.8 1.1
Total Haleoacetic Acids (9) PPB NA ND - 58 23.6
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Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS) = MCLs and
MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) = The highest
level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.

Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG) = The
level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL (MRDL) =
The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL GOAL
(MRDLG) = The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL (PHG) = The level of a contaminant
in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

REGULATORY ACTION LEVEL (AL) = The concentration of a
contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

TREATMENT TECHNIQUE (TT) = A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

The list of unregulated contaminants to monitor is updated every four years by the EPA.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) PPM = Parts Per Million
PPB = Parts Per Billion
P = Present
A = Absent
<DLR = less than Detection Limit for Reporting
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM = drinking water delivery system
RESIDENTIAL TAPS = household faucets used for lead and
copper sampling
DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS = chemical by products of
disinfection
SECONDARY STANDARDS = secondary MCLs are set to
protect the aesthetics of drinking water
NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality.
uS/cm = microSiemens per centimeter
NA = not applicable or available
ND = not detected
NS = no standard
Copper and Lead Tap Monitoring was performed at 77
residential taps in September-October 2019.

HARDNESS = the sum of polyvalent cations present in the water, generally magnesium and calcium. The cations are usually naturally occurring.

SODIUM = refers to the salt present in the water and is generally naturally occurring.
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This report contains important information about
your drinking water. Translate it, or speak with
someone who understands it.

Mahalaga ang impormasyong ito. Mangyaring ipasalin ito.

Attencion: Este informe contiene informacion muy
importante sobre su agua beber. Traduzcalo o hable con
alguien que lo entienda bien.

Notes
(1) Natural fluoride in the Hetch Hetchy source was ND. (2) These are monthly average turbidity values calculated from turbidity measured every four hours daily. (3) The detected chlorate is a degradation product of sodium hypochlorite used by the SFRWS for water disinfection. (4) The MCL was changed to E. coli starting on July 1, 2021 when the State Revised Total Coliform Rule became effective (5) John Sutter Elementary - 26ppb. Repeat sampling following plumbing repairs was non-detect for lead. &LW\RI6DQWD&ODUD

WATER QUALITY TABLE
Q: Is fluoride added to our water?
A: Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter. Fluoridation adjusts the naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water to the ideal level for protecting your teeth. Fluoridated drinking water benefits people of all ages by preventing tooth decay.

The water purchased by the City from the SFPUC is fluoridated, while water from Valley Water is not fluoridated. If your zip code is 95054, you are in the area receiving fluoridated water. However, this area is also served by well water that has not been fluoridated.

Refer to the map that shows the area supplied with water from both the Hetch-Hetchy system and the City’s wells. The majority of the City will continue to receive water without added fluoride.

State law requires the addition of fluoride to all water systems in California serving 10,000 customers or more. In the future, Valley Water plans to add fluoridation to the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant which services the southern portion of Santa Clara.

Fluoridation of the remaining water sources in the City would require installation of fluoride injecting equipment at each of the City's 19 active wells. The law includes a provision for state funds to finance this fluoridation equipment; however; it may be some time before the state can provide funding to move forward with a fluoridation program for the remainder of the City.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DRINKING WATER SOURCE
ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION PROGRAM:

The City completed a Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) Program for the groundwater sources. The DWSAP was completed in August 2002 and submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board in December 2002. A copy of the DWSAP is available at the City's Water Utility offices at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara. You may request a summary of the individual assessments by contacting the Water Utility at (408) 615- 2000 or by email at
[email protected].

LEAD
There have been no exceedances of the ACTION LEVEL for lead in the City of Santa Clara groundwater sources or supplies purchased from other agencies. It is possible for lead levels in your home to be higher than other homes in the community because of plumbing materials used in the original construction of your home. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Santa Clara is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/lead.
“NITRATES” - INFORMATION ABOUT NITRATES IN

If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

In October 2021, the City received a waiver for PFAS monitoring because PFAS was not detected in all collected samples.

TOTAL COLIFORM AND E.COLI
This Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) reflects changes in drinking water regulatory requirements during 2021. These revisions add the requirements of the federal Revised Total Coliform Rule, effective since April 1, 2016, to the existing state Total Coliform Rule. The revised rule maintains the purpose to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbials (i.e., total coliform and E. coli bacteria). The U.S. EPA anticipates greater public health protection as the rule requires water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems. Water systems that exceed a specified frequency of total coliform occurrences are required to conduct an assessment to determine if any sanitary defects exist. If found, these must be corrected by the water system. The state Revised Total Coliform Rule became effective July 1, 2021.

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND GIARDIA IN WATER RESOURCES:

However, immuno-compromised people, infants, small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life-threatening illness.

Currently, available guidance from the state and county health agencies recommends that people with such conditions consult with their doctor or primary health care provider about preventing Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection from all potential sources.

Water consumers may choose to boil their drinking water at a rolling boil for at least one minute as an extra precaution.

CONTAMINANTS THAT OCCUR IN DRINKING WATER

OBTAINED FROM SURFACE SOURCES AND UNDERGROUND
SOURCES:

Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or resulting from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming;
• Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses; • Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals. that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems; • Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-615-2200
SantaClaraCA.gov
Water Utility
1500 Warburton Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Monday-Friday
408-615-2000
Water Billing Questions
408-615-2300
Water Quality Report Questions
Diane Asuncion
408-615-2000
[email protected]
Water Emergencies
408-615-2000 Monday-Friday,
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
408-615-5640 other days and times
Valley Water Water Conservation
Save20gallons.org
408-630-2554 – Water Conservation
Hotline and Rebate Information
Sign up for a free Water-Wise House
Call from Valley Water by calling
1-800-548-1882
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If you would like to learn more about
drinking water quality, treatment and
regulation, contact these organizations:

American Water Works Association:
awwa.org
State Water Resources Control Board,
Division of Drinking Water:
www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_
water/programs/index.html
United States Environmental
Protection Agency:
water.epa.gov/drink
San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission, Water Quality Bureau:
sfwater.org
Valley Water:
valleywater.orH
Water Education Foundation:
watereducation.org
Water Quality & Agriculture Info Center:
www.nal.usda.gov/legacy/waic
Public Input
To provide input on decisions that affect
drinking water quality, provide input to the
Santa Clara City Council at a Council meeting
or in advance to mayorandcouncil@
santaclaraca.gov or call 408-615-2250. A
list of all City Council meetings, agenda items
and study sessions can be viewed on the City
website SantaClaraCA.gov.
eNotify
Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/eNews to sign up
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City Council and Authorities ConcurrentNovember 1, 2022

City Council and Authorities Concurrent
November 1, 2022