For City Council Meeting and Rialto Utility Authority [May 28, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Thomas J. Crowley, P.E., Utilities Manager
Title
Request City Council to Receive and File the 2018 Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), also known as an annual drinking water quality report, to their customers. These reports provide the Community with information about their local drinking water quality.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Reports must be sent to customers and the state of California by July 1 of each year and contains the following information:
• The source of the drinking water;
• A brief summary of the risk of contamination of the local drinking water source;
• The regulated contaminant found in local drinking water;
• The potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of an EPA health standard;
• An accounting of the system's actions to restore safe drinking water;
• An educational statement for vulnerable populations about avoiding Cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium, as defined by Wikipedia, is a genus of apicomplexan parasitic alveolates that can cause a respiratory and gastrointestinal illness (cryptosporidiosis);
• Educational information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead in areas where these contaminants may be a concern;
• Phone numbers of additional sources of information, including the water system;
• EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline number 1-800-426-4791.
The 2018 edition of the CCR is included as Attachment 1.
This item was presented at the May 21, 2019, Utilities Commission meeting where the Commission recommended staff present it to the City Council as a receive and file item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The proposed action 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:
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan: 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.
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 has reviewed and approved the staff report
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
As the primary method of distribution is the website, the financial impact associated with the CCR is minimal and generally limited to printing and distribution costs associated with having the CCR printed for distribution at City offices.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There will not be an impact to the Capital Improvement Budget with the proposed action.
Licensing
Payment of a Business License tax is not required with the proposed action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Receive and File the 2018 Consumer Confidence Report.