Public Health Goal Guidance Available for ACWA Member Agencies

ACWA has released its 2010 Suggested Guidelines for use by public water systems in preparing Public Health Goal (PHG) reports to satisfy requirements of California Health and Safety Code Section 116470(b). The newly updated guidelines were first prepared and distributed by ACWA in 1998, the first year the reports were required.

Public water systems serving more than 10,000 service connections must prepare a brief, written report by July 1, 2010, that provides information on the “detection” of any contaminants above the PHGs published by the State Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). The report must also list the “detection” of any contaminant above the Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for all other contaminants for which OEHHA has yet to establish a PHG. 

The report requires water systems to address only those contaminants that have an MCLG or PHG and an existing MCL. Contaminants that do not have an MCLG or PHG, such as TTHMs, HAAs, unregulated contaminants, and contaminants with secondary standards, are not required to be addressed. Please note the guidelines provided reflect the minimum information required by law. 

The requirement to prepare PHG reports is unique to California. The reports are required in addition to the extensive annual public reporting of water quality information by California water utilities and in addition to the federally mandated Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs).

Along with the guidance document, ACWA has provided a complete table of applicable PHGs/MCLs/DLRs, OEHHA’s Health Risk Data Table (currently the 2007 version, pending release of updated 2010 information by OEHHA, cost estimates for treatment technologies and a sample PHG report for water agency use. The cost estimates are not detailed engineering specifications and should only be used as an estimate.