For City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Meeting August 27, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: G. Michael Milhiser, Interim City Manager
AUTHOR: Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
...Title
Request that the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board receive and file the 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for Drinking Water. (RECEIVE AND FILE)
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board receive and file the 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for Drinking Water.
BACKGROUND
In 1996, the United States Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act by adding a provision requiring all community water systems to deliver a brief annual water quality report. The annual report is referred to as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and is delivered to customers annually no later than July 1st.
The CCR includes information on our source water, the levels of any detected contaminants for the calendar year, compliance with drinking water rules, plus educational material.
The online availability of the Annual Consumer Confidence Report, created by Rialto Water Services (RWS), is sent to customers in the message box of their water bill. It explains that the report is online on the RWS website and can be obtained as a hard copy from certain City facilities. Customers can also request a copy by mail through their bill statement.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Since 1990, California public water utilities have provided an annual Consumer Confidence Report to their customers. This year’s report covers the calendar year 2023 drinking water quality testing and reporting. RWS, as operated by Veolia of North America is responsible for safeguarding our water supply and, as in years past, the water delivered to the homes and businesses met the quality standards required by Federal and State regulatory agencies. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are the government agencies responsible for establishing and enforcing drinking water quality standards.
On May 29, 2024, the Water Subcommittee provided feedback that the item be placed on the Utilities Commission agenda for consideration to move the item forward to the City Council as a discussion item.
Historically this item has been placed on the City Council Agenda as a consent item for receive and file. However, based on the reported increase in arsenic from non-detectable to 3.1 milligrams per liter (μg/L) with an average of 0.52 μg/L in 2020 to non-detectable to 9.7 μg/L with an average of 6.7 μg/L in 2023, the item was recommended to be presented to the City Council and the public for an explanation in the increased level of arsenic.
The maximum contaminant level (MCL), which is the highest amount of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water as set by the USEPA, for arsenic is 10 μg/L and arsenic is tested triennially. Therefore, before 2023 arsenic was last tested in 2020.
On March 22, 2023, City Well 2, which pumps water from the Lytle Creek Basin, had an initial hit of 9.7 μg/L for arsenic. This triggered quarterly sampling with the following results:
|
Date |
Result |
|
March 22, 2023 |
9.7 μg/L |
|
June 29, 2023 |
5.2 μg/L |
|
September 13, 2023 |
5.1 μg/L |
|
December 14, 2023 |
5.2 μg/L |
Per RWS the initial 9.7 μg/L sample was due to City Well 2 not running long enough before the sample was taken. RWS will present its findings and will be available to answer questions from the City Council, Rialto Utility Authority Board, and residents.
On June 18, 2024, the Utilities Commission recommended that this item be placed on the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority agenda to receive and file the 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for Drinking Water.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This request is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of the proposed action also complies with the following City of Rialto Guiding Principles, General Plan Goals and Policies:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
Goal 3-8: Promote affordable and quality water service capable of adequately meeting normal and emergency water demands to all areas in Rialto.
Policy 3-8.4: Advocate regular evaluation of the entire water supply and distribution system to ensure its continued adequacy, reliability, and safety.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and supports the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The cost related to distributing the CCR is low because it's mainly done through the RWS website and advertisement of its availability is done through the monthly water bill.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There will not be any impact on the Capital Improvement Budget from the proposed action.
Licensing
Payment of a Business License tax is not required for the proposed action.