Health Risk Information for Public Health Goal Exceedance Reports

Under the Calderon-Sher Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 (the Act), water utilities are required to prepare a report every three years for contaminants that exceed public health goals (PHGs) (Health and Safety Code Section 116470 (2)[b]). The numerical health risk is to be presented with the category of health risk, along with a plainly worded description of these terms. PHGs are published by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) (Health and Safety Code Section 116365) as concentrations of contaminants in drinking water that OEHHA, using current risk assessment principles, practices and methods, considers to pose no significant health risk if consumed for a lifetime. This report is prepared by OEHHA to assist the water utilities in meeting their requirements.