HomeMy WebLinkAbout8 Public Hearing_ Public health Goals 2021TRUCKEE DONNER AGENDA ITEM "
Public Utility District
MEETING DATE: August 3, 2022
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Chad J. Reed, Water Utility Director
SUBJECT: District's 2022 Public Health_ Goals Report
APPROVED BY
LBrian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct a Public Hearing to receive input from the public regarding the District's 2021
Public Health Goals Report.
BACKGROUND:
Provisions of the California Health and Safety Code specify that larger water utilities
(>10,000 service connections) prepare a special report if any of their water quality
measurements have exceeded any Public Health Goal (PHG). PHG's are non -
enforceable goals established by the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal -
EPA) office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). PHG's are long-term
goals that are well beyond the current acceptable safe drinking water limits Maximum
Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG). The law also requires that where a PHG for a
constituent has not been established, the water suppliers are to use the MCLG adopted
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The only constituents
which will be addressed in the District's Public Health Goals are constituents with a
California primary drinking water standard and for which either a PHG or an MCLG has
been set.
While the District's drinking water supply meets or exceeds all State and Federal
standards as reported in the District's annual Consumer Confidence Report, arsenic
continues to exceed the applicable PHG. The Public Health Goals Report reflects when
arsenic was detected in the Truckee Donner Public Utility District in the years 2019
through 2021 at a level exceeding the PHG or MCLG. Included in the report are:
• The numerical public health risk associated with the Maximum Contaminant Level
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(MCL) and the PHG or MCLG. (MCLs are set by the USEPA or the California
Department of Public Health in their enforceable drinking water standards);
The category or type of risk to health that could be associated with arsenic
The best treatment technology available that could be used to reduce the arsenic
level; and
• An estimate of the cost to install that treatment if it is appropriate and feasible.
California Senate Bill (SB) 1307 requires that public water systems present the report in
the form of a Public Hearing, providing opportunity for customer input. Previously, the
TDPUD 2019 Water Utility Public Health Goal Report was presented in a Public Hearing
held at the District Board Meeting on June 5, 2019.
ANALYSIS:
The Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2021 Public Health Goals Report has been
prepared for review and publication (See Attachment 1). In accordance with SB 1307,
following the Public Hearing, staff will notify the California State Water Resources Control
Board, Division of Drinking Water that a Public Heath Goals Report has been prepared,
and has been presented to the District's water utility customers in the form of a publicly
scheduled hearing. The Board scheduled this hearing to be held at the regularly
scheduled meeting on August 3, 2022 at 6:00pm or shortly thereafter.
As documented in the Public Health Goals Report, the drinking water quality of the District
meets all State of California Department of Public Health and USEPA drinking water
standards set to protect public health.
The only PHG covered in the District's Public Health Goals Report was arsenic, which is
a naturally occurring element found in regions with volcanic and granite rock formations.
During the prescribed time, six of the District's wells exceeded the PHG however, none
of the wells exceeded the MCLG. Treatment options were reviewed however none were
recommended.
The staff is recommending that no additional action be taken to address the arsenic levels
because:
• Historically, the local groundwater arsenic levels have been relatively stable with
measureable concentrations below the regulatory action levels;
• The cost to reduce the level of arsenic identified in this report is estimated to
exceed $6.9 million dollars per year plus capital costs in excess of $8 million for
the treatment systems;
• The effectiveness of the treatment processes to provide any significant reductions
in constituent levels at these already low values is uncertain; and
• The health protection benefits of these further hypothetical reductions are not at
all clear and may not be quantifiable.
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OBJECTIVES AND GOALS:
This item is in support of the following goals and objectives:
District Code 1.05.020 Objectives:
1. Responsibly serve the public
1.1. Conduct the District's business in a legal, ethical, open, and transparent
manner
3. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution system to meet current
and future needs.
6. Manage the District in an effective, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
Strategic Goals:
1. Manage for Financial Stability and Resiliency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact with this Public Hearing.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2021 Public Health Goals
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