Item 3.1 Visual slideshow presented by Staff at MeetingReport on Public Health Goals
August 6, 2019
•Poway’s Drinking Water Meets or Exceeds all Regulatory Requirements
•CalEPA determines the lowest concentration of chemicals allowed in
drinking water called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)
•MCLs are legally enforceable standards
•Poway regularly tests for compliance and summarizes the results in the annual
Consumer Confidence Reports (Water Quality Report)
•CalEPA has the responsibility to determine the concentration of
chemicals in drinking water which present no significant health risk,
called Public Health Goals (PHGs)
•PHGs are not legally enforceable standards
•Established without economic, environmental, or operational impacts
BACKGROUND
MCL vs PHG
MCL
Result
PHG
Legally Enforceable Limit
Results below legal limit
Non-enforceable Goal
•Purpose of the PHG Report is to:
•Describe constituents in drinking water that do not meet PHGs levels
•Outline health risks associated with each constituent
•Present treatment technologies that could lower the constituents to
PHGs
•Present the cost associated with the treatment technologies
•Allow for recommendations regarding treatment options to achieve
PHGs
•Reporting is completed every 3 years
•The Report Covers Calendar Years 2016, 2017 & 2018
PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS
Constituent MCL Poway*PHG Source
Coliform Bacteria 5%1.5%0%Growth in distribution system
Gross Beta **
pCi/L
50 5 0 Erosion of natural deposits
Uranium**
pCi/L
20 2 0.43 Erosion of natural deposits
Arsenic
µg/L
10 2.14 0.004 Erosion of natural deposits
* Highest value of the three years chosen for illustrative purposes
**Gross Beta and Uranium are considered radionuclides for the purposes of the Public Health Goals Report.
Additionally, results for radionuclides and arsenic are from raw, unfinished water.
REPORTING CONSTITUENTS
pCi/L= Picocuries per Liter
µg/L = Microgram per Liter
Constituent Treatment Technology Cost
Coliform Bacteria Disinfectant residuals Already Implemented
Radionuclides*Reverse Osmosis &
Ion Exchange
$13 -$30.5 million/year
Arsenic Reverse Osmosis $6.5 -$24 million/year
*Includes Gross Beta & Uranium
TREATMENT OPTIONS & COST
Questions?