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

OEHHA adopted a Public Health Goal (PHG) of 13 ppb (parts per billion, or micrograms per liter) for methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in drinking water.

In 1999, OEHHA adopted 20 Public Health Goals (PHGs) for chemicals in California drinking water.  These chemicals are: atrazine, bentazon, cadmium, chromium (withdrawn on 11/09/01), 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloropropane, 1,3-dichloropropene, endrin, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, lindane, inorganic mercury, methoxychlor, thallium, toluene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and trichloroethylene.

OEHHA published technical support documents for Public Health Goals (PHGs) for 20 chemicals in drinking water.  These chemicals are: atrazine, bentazon, cadmium, chromium (withdrawn on 11/09/01), 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloropropane, 1,3-dichloropropene, endrin, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, lindane, inorganic mercury, methoxychlor, thallium, toluene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and trichloroethylene.

OEHHA announces a workshop for discussion of the draft technical support documents for Public Health Goals for chemicals in drinking water.  The chemicals are: atrazine; bentazon; cadmium; chromium; 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP); 1,2-dichloroethane (ethylene chloride); 1,1-dichloroethylene; 1,2-dichloropropane; 1,3-dichloropropene (Telone); endrin; heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide; gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane); hexachlorocyclopentadiene; inorganic mercury; methoxychlor; thallium; 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene; trichloroethylene; and toluene.

Description of Public Health Goals (PHGs) and the process of PHG development.