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Commission adopts 2013 public health goal report; staff to send required letter to state
Summary
The commission heard the triennial public health goal report from Water Quality Division Director Andrew DeGraza, which found occasional detections of aluminum and arsenic in raw water (no finished-water exceedances), household lead detections tied to plumbing fixtures, and a few marginal radium hits in June 2011 that were not confirmed on repeat sampling; commissioners adopted the resolution and staff will notify the state.
Andrew DeGraza, director of the Water Quality Division, presented the 2013 Public Health Goal (PHG) report required every three years. He explained that PHGs are ideal contaminant levels that do not consider cost or technical feasibility and that the utility must compare three years of monitoring to PHGs and solicit public comment as part of the reporting process.
DeGraza said that for 92 contaminants with PHGs, 86 were below detection or below the public health goal; aluminum and arsenic were detected in raw water (source) but not in finished water, meaning treatment was effective. He noted that lead detections were associated with household plumbing and brass fixtures rather than source water or distribution treatment.
On radium, DeGraza described a few marginal detections in June 2011 near the method detection limit: "We did do repeat monitoring...the repeat monitoring luckily was all negative, so we've got some level of comfort," he said, but staff will continue to pay attention to the parameter in future monitoring cycles.
For mitigation, staff recommended continuing current monitoring and operations, maintaining watershed protection and evaluating treatment chemicals; the utility offers free or low-cost lead testing for qualifying residents and is replacing meters to comply with low-lead requirements. The commission adopted a resolution to document the hearing and directed staff to send the required letter to the state health department reporting that the hearing was held and the report considered.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about next steps and monitoring follow-up; staff agreed to continue monitoring and report any significant changes.
