PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION
REQUEST FOR ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Chair and Board Members
SUBMITTED BY: Other
VIA: Chau Vu, Director of Public Works
PREPARED BY: John Poehler, Deputy Director of Public Works
Subject:
title
Public Hearing to Consider Acceptance of Public Works Utilities Division Public Health Goals Report
body
Statement of Issue:
The California Health and Safety Code requires that public water systems serving more than 10,000 service connections prepare a Public Health Goals (PHGs) Report every three years, by July 1, if any water quality data indicates exceedances of non-enforceable PHGs. The report must be presented to the governing body and be the subject of a public hearing to receive public comment and consider acceptance.
The 2025 PHGs Report has been prepared and presented to the City Council. The City Attorney has advised that the public hearing requirement may be delegated to the Public Works Commission.
Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact with this action.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Accept the Public Works Utilities Division Public Health Goals Report.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not accept the report and instruct staff on how to proceed.
Analysis:
The City of Huntington Beach has completed its 2025 Public Health Goals (PHGs) Report, in compliance with Section 116470 of the California Health and Safety Code. This triennial report evaluates drinking water constituents detected at levels exceeding California Public Health Goals (PHGs) or federal Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs). These benchmarks are non-enforceable, health-based advisory levels solely based on public health risk considerations.
PHGs are developed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA, while MCLGs serve as their federal counterparts. Neither PHGs nor MCLGs are regulatory standards; instead, they are used to guide long-term improvements in water quality. The City’s report includes a summary of potential health risks, best available treatment technologies (BATs), and estimated costs to reduce constituent levels to meet these advisory goals.
The 2025 report analyzes data from calendar years 2022 through 2024. Constituents found above PHG or MCLG levels include Arsenic, Bromate, Gross Alpha Particle Activity, Gross Beta Particle Activity, Hexavalent Chromium, PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid), and Uranium. These substances originate from natural sources, historical industrial activity, or as byproducts of water treatment processes. All water quality results remain in full compliance with enforceable state and federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).
Although treatment options such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and granular activated carbon can reduce these constituents to below PHG levels, the estimated annual cost to implement such treatment ranges from $8.2 million to $70.5 million-or approximately $154 to $1,320 per service connection.
The City remains committed to protecting public health, complying with all drinking water regulations, and ensuring transparency through ongoing monitoring, the annual Consumer Confidence Report, and future PHG updates.
Environmental Status:
Choose an item.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. 2025 Public Health Goals Report
2. Presentation