For Water Subcommittee Meeting May 29, 2025
TO: Honorable Water Subcommittee Members
APPROVAL: John Rossi, Interim Utilities Director
FROM: Nicole Hemmans, Senior Administrative Analyst
Title
Request for Feedback Regarding Setting a Public Hearing for the 2025 Public Health Goals Report and Provide Comments on the 2024 Consumer Confidence Report on Drinking Water.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback on the 2025 PHGs and 2024 CCR before seeking City Council approval to schedule a Public Hearing at the meeting on July 22, 2025. A formal presentation will be made at that time.
BACKGROUND
The City of Rialto is required to provide the public with two distinct types of water quality reports, each serving a different purpose: the Public Health Goals Report and the Consumer Confidence Report.
Public Health Goals Report (PHGs): Provisions of the California Health and Safety Code specify that larger water utilities with more than 10,000 service connections prepare a PHG Report and conduct a Public Hearing by July 1, 2025, if any water quality results from 2022-2024 exceed non-enforceable PHG levels set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. PHGs are health-based goals, not regulatory limits. A public hearing must be held to present the report and receive public input. Staff is requesting feedback on setting the Public Hearing for the June 24, 2025, City Council meeting.
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR): The CCR is an annual report required under federal and state regulations. It is designed to inform customers about the quality of their drinking water, including compliance with enforceable drinking water standards. The CCR for calendar year 2024 confirms that the City of Rialto’s water meets or exceeds all applicable state and federal standards. This report is publicly available online and in hard copy at City Hall, the City Clerk’s Office, and the Rialto Water Services Customer Service office. Staff is requesting comments from the Water Subcommittee before going to City Council.
Together, these reports provide transparency regarding water quality, with the PHG report addressing theoretical health risk benchmarks and the CCR documenting regulatory compliance.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Public Health Goals Report (PHGs):
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) sets Public Health Goals (PHGs) based solely on public health risk considerations. Of the 125 constituents tested, the City of Rialto's water supply meets all the PHGs and Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) standards except for three.
The attached 2025 PHGs report information is required by law because three constituents detected are above the Public Health guidelines: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, and 2,3,7,8-Thtrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD).
1. Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table. The PHG for arsenic is 0.004 ppb and the MCL is 10 ppb. Arsenic was found to occur in one groundwater well, City Well 2, with a detection range of 5.1 ppb to 9.7 ppb.
2. Hexavalent Chromium (Cr (VI)) can come from both natural and industrial sources. The PHG for Hexavalent Chromium is 0.02 ppb and the MCL is 10 ppb. Hexavalent Chromium was found to occur in all groundwater wells and import water sources with a range of 0.16 ppb to 2.8 ppb.
3. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a highly toxic and persistent environmental pollutant. The PHG for TCDD is 0.05 picogram/liter and the MCL is 30 picogram/liter. TCDD was found to occur in Chino 2, City Well 2, EW-1, Miro 3, and the Baseline Feeder, with a detection ranging between 1.17 picogram/liter and 4.92 picogram/liter.
Although the City exceeded the PHG on three constituents, all three were well within the drinking water standards and the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). It should be noted that testing for Hexavalent Chromium and 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were not sampled in the previous Public Health Goals report, per regulatory requirements.
The Public Health Goals Report will provide detailed information, including:
• The category or type of health risk that could be associated with each constituent.
• The best available technology (BATs) could be used to reduce the level of the constituent.
• An estimate of the cost of installing treatment if it is appropriate and feasible.
The 2025 edition of the Public Health Goals Report is included as Attachment 1.
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR):
All of the water quality data collected by our water system for 2024 is summarized in the City of Rialto 2024 Consumer Confidence Reports which states that the City has either met or exceeded the standards set by the State and Federal Law.
The 2024 CCR for the City of Rialto provides information about:
• The source of drinking water.
• A brief summary of the risks of contamination of the local drinking water source.
• The regulated contaminants found in local drinking water.
• The potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of an EPA health standard.
Additional information is included in the 2024 edition of the Consumer Confidence Report, included as Attachment 2.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The financial impact associated with the CCR is minimal, as the primary method of distribution is the website.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There will not be any impact to the Capital Improvement Budget from the proposed action.