Laserfiche WebLink
9.A. - Page 8 )d City 2016 Public Health Goal Report <br /> Guidelines for Preparation of this Report <br /> The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) formed a workgroup which prepared <br /> guidelines for water utilities to use in preparing Public Health Goal reports, and these <br /> guidelines were used in the preparation of this report. <br /> Explanation of Terms <br /> PHG - Public Health Goal (PHG) is the level of a chemical contaminant in drinking water that <br /> does not pose a significant risk to health. PHGs are not regulatory standards and are set by <br /> the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard <br /> Assessment (OEHHA) and are based solely on public health risk considerations. <br /> MCL - Maximum Contaminant Levels are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <br /> (USEPA) or the California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water <br /> (DDW) as the level which is required to be met in water systems. Violations of an MCL can <br /> result in a fine, abatement order, or closure of facilities. When the USEPA or DDW adopts <br /> an MCL, they take into account such factors as: <br /> 1. Analytical methodologies; <br /> 2. Effectiveness of available treatment technologies; and <br /> 3. Benefits and costs. <br /> MCLG - A Maximum Contaminant Level Goals is the maximum level of a contaminant in <br /> drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons <br /> would occur, allowing an adequate margin of safety. MCLGs are non-enforceable public <br /> health goals. MCLGs consider only public health and not the limits of detection and <br /> treatment technology effectiveness. Therefore, they sometimes are set at levels which <br /> water systems cannot meet because of technological limitations. <br /> DLR - Detection Level for purposes of Reporting (DLR): Along with an MCL, a regulated <br /> contaminant also has a DLR. DDW establishes DLRs at levels that allow it to be confident <br /> about a value or quantification being reported and that most laboratories have the <br /> analytical capabilities to meet. DLRs are not laboratory-specific and cannot be changed by <br /> laboratories. In addition, DLRs do not depend on the analytical method used: thus, the <br /> availability of a new or improved analytical method does not automatically result in DLR <br /> revision. However, advancements in measuring techniques and instruments have helped <br /> many laboratories use detection limits lower than the DLRs for many contaminants in <br /> drinking water. <br /> DLRs are used by the DDW to determine compliance with MCLs. If a contaminant is found in <br /> a compliance sample at a level above its DLR, it is considered "detected." If a contaminant's <br /> DLR is below the PHG or MCLG, it is clear when the PHG/MCLG is exceeded. In contrast, if <br /> the DLR is above the PHG or MCLG, it might not be clear when a PHG/MCLG has been <br /> exceeded. For the latter cases, the ACWA guidelines state that a concentration reported as <br /> 2 <br />