Adoption of 27 Public Health Goals for Chemicals in California Drinking Water (1997- 98)

In accordance with Health and Safety Code, Section 1165365 (California Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, SB 1307, Calderon/Sher), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has adopted 27 Public Health Goals (PHGs) (Table 1).  PHGs represent non-mandatory goals based solely on public health considerations, and are developed based on the best available data in the scientific literature.  These documents provide technical assistance to the Department of Health Services for establishing primary drinking water standards (State Maximum Contaminant Levels, or MCLs), and they also provide relevant information to federal, state, and local public health officials.

OEHHA has completed technical support documents which provide the basis for the adoption of the 27 PHGs.  The support documents provide information on health effects from contaminants and estimates of the levels of contaminants in drinking water that would pose no significant health risk to individuals consuming the water on a daily basis over a lifetime.  These documents have undergone a public workshop and a public review and comment period in fulfillment of the requirements of Health and Safety Code, Section 57003 (SB 1082).  The final documents have incorporated changes in response to comments as appropriate.  Staff are in the process of writing individual letters to commenters informing them of changes made in response to comments.

OEHHA appreciates this opportunity for developing the PHGs in fulfillment of our mission in environmental and public health protection.  If you need any additional information, call Allan Hirsch, External Affairs Officer, (916) 324-1945.

Follow this link to view Table 1, California Public Health Goals (PHGs) for Chemicals in Drinking Water