Thousand Oaks council receives triennial public-health goals water-quality report; staff says drinking water meets enforceable standards

Thousand Oaks — The City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 23 to receive the 2025 triennial public-health goals water-quality report and to place the report in the public record.

Utilities Superintendent Mike Dovachowicz told the council that public health goals are non-enforceable, health-based targets developed by the state or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, while maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) are the enforceable standards. “The city's water is of high quality and consistently meets all MCLs,” Dovachowicz said, summarizing staff analysis of three years of testing.

Staff said the city purchases most of its water from regional suppliers: roughly 98% comes from Metropolitan Water District’s Jensen Treatment Plant in Granada Hills during a typical year, with the remainder coming from Calleguas Municipal Water District’s Lake Bard facility when metropolitan facilities are offline for maintenance. The city does not treat its own source water.

Dovachowicz reported that, of about 95 contaminants with established public-health goals, five were detected above those health-goal levels in the last three years; those detections occurred at very low levels and infrequently and remained well below MCLs. Deputy Public Works Director John Minkl said the city conducts downstream distribution testing — roughly 20 samples per week — to monitor constituents closer to customers’ taps.

Councilmembers asked about sampling locations, measures to prevent disinfection byproduct buildup and the city’s efforts to diversify water sources. Staff said the city is exploring additional local sources and working with Calleguas Municipal Water District and neighboring agencies to bolster resiliency.

Councilmember Adam moved to receive the report based on staff recommendations. The clerk recorded a 5–0 vote to receive the report.