Water

OEHHA performs major risk assessment and hazard evaluation activities relating to chemical contaminants in drinking water. These activities include developing health advisories, Public Health Goals for chemical substances in drinking water, Notification Levels, and providing toxicological assistance for chemical monitoring activities for the drinking water supply. The program also provides education to the public and other governmental agencies on drinking water contamination and drinking water regulatory standards development.

Public Health Goals

Level of a chemical contaminant in drinking water that does not pose a significant risk to health

Notices

Legal notices for Public Health Goals and Notification Levels

Notification Levels

Health-based advisory levels for chemicals in drinking water

Reports

Reports focusing on water

Human Right to Water

OEHHA’s assessment framework and data tool related to drinking water quality, accessibility, and affordability

Reports, Notices, Documents

Revised draft public health goal (PHG) for hexavalent chromium in drinking water. This document revises an earlier draft issued in August 2009 that proposed a PHG of 0.06 ppb. The PHG will serve as guidance for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in developing the nation’s first drinking water standard specifically for chromium 6.

OEHHA announces a second public comment period for the draft Public Health goal for hexavalent chromium in drinking water.

The PHG for styrene is established at 0.5 parts per billion (ppb), based on carcinogenic effects in mice, supported by genotoxic effects observed in humans and suggestive evidence of increased cancer in occupational studies.

The PHG for selenium is established at 30 parts per billion (ppb) for water-soluble and bioavailable selenium compounds in drinking water. The health-protective level is based on avoidance of several symptoms of chronic selenosis in humans, including increased frequency of thickened and brittle fingernails, garlic odor in the breath, hair loss, skin lesions, and disturbances of the digestive tract.

Peer-reviewed comments on the draft Public Health Goal for hexavalent chromium have been received and are available.