1. City Council Public Hearing August 16, 2010
PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS
City Council
Public Hearing
August 16, 2010

2. Public Health Goals (PHGs)
WHAT ARE PHGs?
Set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) which is part of California EPA
Based solely on public health risk considerations
Detection capability, availability of treatment technology, benefits and costs are not considered
Are not enforceable and not required to be met

3. PHG vs. Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
CCR Report
Required annually
Drinking water regulatory standards
Includes information on source water
Levels of any detected contaminants
PWP’s compliance with drinking water regulations
PHG Report
Required every 3 years
Level of a contaminant in drinking water, that does not pose a health risk if consumed for a lifetime.
Contaminants present, but at levels below the drinking water standards (MCLs)
Technology for removal, if any, and associated cost

4. Constituents Detected That Have Exceeded a PHG or a MCLG
The constituents listed below have exceeded a PHG or a MCLG at one or more of the City’s sources.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Perchlorate
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) Lead/Copper
Total Coliform Bacteria Arsenic
Nitrate Uranium
Fluoride Gross Alpha
The water from these sources have been blended with other sources of water to meet all applicable water quality standards before being delivered to customers.

5. Acronyms
PHG Public Health Goal. The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. Set by Cal-EPA.
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level. 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.
MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goal - 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.

6. Conclusion
The drinking water quality of the City of Pasadena meets all State and Federal drinking water standards set to protect public health.
To further reduce the contaminant levels to meet the PHGs would require additional costly treatment processes.
No action is proposed.

7. Constituents Detected That Have Exceeded a PHG or a MCLG
Chemical
PHG / MCLG
(mg/L)
MCL
Range of Detections (mg/L)
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
0.0017
0.005
Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
Total Coliform Bacteria
0 MCLG 5% %
Nitrate 45
45.5 **
Fluoride 1 2
Perchlorate
0.006
Lead / Copper*
/ 0.3 *
0.015 / 1.3
< 0.005/ 0.170
Arsenic
0.01
Uranium
0.43 picoCuries/L 20
Gross Alpha
15pci/L
3-16pci/L **
* 90th percentile of the samples collected cannot exceed the action level.
** Copelin Well