REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action to Accept the 2025 Report on the City’s Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals
Report
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to the California Safe Drinking Water Act (Health and Safety Code Section 116470), the city is required to prepare a Public Health Goals (PHG) Report on water quality every three years. Since 1998, the city has complied with this requirement. The city must hold a public hearing to accept the 2025 Report on the City’s Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals (2025 PHG Report) and to respond to any public comments. The City continues to comply with all health-based drinking water standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Division of Drinking Water-State Water Resources Control Board (DDW).
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), part of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), has established PHGs for over 100 drinking water constituents. PHGs are set at levels where no known or expected adverse health effects occur, with an added margin of safety. The attached report covers the constituents with an OEHHA-established PHG. If OEHHA has not set a PHG for a regulated contaminant, the report uses the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) from the USEPA.
Both PHGs and MCLGs are public health goals only. They are not enforceable standards, and water systems are not required to meet them. In contrast, Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are enforceable drinking water standards established by the USEPA and the DDW. While PHGs and MCLGs are based solely on health considerations, they also consider factors such as laboratory detection capabilities, available treatment technology, benefits, and costs.
DISCUSSION
The city has used drinking water quality data collected from 2022 through 2024 to prepare the 2025 PHG Report. Regulations require a public report whenever a PHG or MCLG is exceeded. Analytical evidence from the City of Santa Clara’s Water Utility shows that Arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and perchlorate exceeded their respective PHG or MCLG. The attached 2025 PHG Report addresses these three constituents.
The analytical data used for this report have been shared with customers in the City’s annual Consumer Confidence Report. This report was mailed to all utility billing customers. Table 1 shows the monitoring results of the three contaminants that exceed the applicable PHGs during the reporting period. shows.
Table 1. Contaminants Detected above PHGs
|
Constituent |
MCL (ppb) |
PHG (ppb) |
DLR (ppb) |
City’s Results (ppb) |
|
Arsenic |
10 |
0.004 |
2 |
ND - 2.2 |
|
Hexavalent Chromium |
10 |
0.02 |
0.1 |
ND - 4.3 |
|
Perchlorate |
6 |
1 |
1 |
ND - 1.1 |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level
PHG = Public Health Goal
DLR = Detection Level for Reporting
ND = Not Detectable
ppb = parts per billion
Arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and perchlorate were detected at levels exceeding their respective Public Health Goal (PHG) levels. However, the concentrations were very low and well below the enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), which are legal limits set for drinking water safety. This means the City’s drinking water supply continues to meet all DDW and USEPA standards designed to protect public health.
Additional treatment processes that might further reduce these constituents are of uncertain effectiveness. They may not deliver measurable health benefits and could produce toxic by-products that require costly disposal. Therefore, no additional actions are proposed at this time.
This agenda item meets the City’s obligation under Health and Safety Code Section 116470, which requires a brief written report in plain language if one or more PHGs are exceeded and a public hearing to accept and respond to public comments on the 2025 PHG Report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the city, other than administrative staff time and expense to produce the 2025 PHG Report.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
Public Notice of the October 21, 2025, Council hearing published in the Santa Clara Weekly, a newspaper of general circulation.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Accept the 2025 Report on the City’s Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals.
Staff
Reviewed by: John Ramirez, Director, Water & Sewer Utilities
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025 Report on the City’s Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals