Water Quality

Consumer

Confidence

Report

2021

The City of Santa Clara is committed to providing our customers with a safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water.

Report

Contains Water

Quality Monitoring

Results

Each year we publish our annual water quality report known as the Consumer Confidence Report (report). It contains the latest water quality monitoring results obtained through the end of calendar year 2020. It answers some of the most common water quality questions asked by our customers. We hope it will provide the facts and perspectives you need to make an informed evaluation of your tap water.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and State regulations. Although the water you receive is tested for over 100 potential contaminants and 48 other parameters, the majority of the potential contaminants are never detected. To simplify the report, only the constituents that were detected in at least one water source appear in the water quality table. We are also required by the State to provide additional information about certain constituents that appear on the water quality table even though the water meets all applicable drinking water standards. The State allows us

to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old.

INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS:

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

The quality of drinking water is carefully regulated by the Federal Government. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring the USEPA to establish uniform standards for drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act was further amended in 1986 and 1996, adding even more stringent standards. In California, these standards are enforced by State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.

PRIMARY STANDARDS are designed to protect public health. These standards specify the limits, called "Maximum Contaminant Levels" (MCLs) for substances in water that may be harmful to humans or affect their health if consumed in large quantities.

SECONDARY STANDARDS are based on aesthetic qualities of water such as color, taste and odor. These standards specify limits for substances that may affect consumer acceptance of the water. Both Primary and Secondary Standards are listed in

this report.

It is important to the City of Santa Clara that you, the water consumer, have current and factual information about your water supply. In this latest issue of our report, we hope to further your understanding and strengthen your confidence in the quality and integrity of the water supplied to you by the City of Santa Clara. We take great pride in delivering the safest and highest quality water available.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Source Water Information

17. Where does our water come from?

1. The City of Santa Clara has three separate sources of drinking water. Often, these sources are used interchangeably or are blended together. Altogether these sources provide an average of 16 million gallons of water per day to the homes, businesses, industries and institutions of Santa Clara. In 2020,
   about 41% of our water was treated surface water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and from the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s (SFPUC) Hetch-Hetchy System, imported
   from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Water purchased from Valley Water serves primarily the southwesterly portion of the City. SFPUC Hetch-Hetchy water typically serves the area north of Highway 101. The remaining 59% is pumped from the City’s system of 21 active wells serving the rest of Santa Clara. The map shows the general areas served by the different water sources.

CITY WELLS

The majority of water consumed in the City of Santa Clara is pumped from the City’s system of deep wells. Well water is pulled up from groundwater (water that is located in aquifers which are waterfilled spaces between sand, gravel, silt and clay) deep in the ground. Aquifers are replenished by rainwater that infiltrates down from the land surface..

HETCH HETCHY SYSTEM

The City purchases water from the Hetch Hetchy System. The

San Francisco Regional Water System (SFRWS) conducts watershed sanitary surveys for the Hetch Hetchy source annually and for non- Hetch Hetchy surface water sources (UNHHS) every five years. The latest sanitary surveys for the non-Hetch Hetchy watersheds were completed in 2021 for the period of 2016-2020. All these surveys together with our stringent watershed protection management

activities were completed with support from partner agencies including National Park Service and US Forest Service.

The purposes of the surveys are to evaluate the sanitary conditions and water quality of the watersheds and to review results of watershed management activities conducted in the preceding

years. Wildlife, stock, and human activities continue to be the potential contamination sources. You may contact the San Francisco District office of the State Water

Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (SWRCB-DDW) at 510-620-3474 for the

review of these reports.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now Valley Water, provides treated surface water to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver the water directly to homes and businesses in Santa Clara County. Valley Water’s

surface water is mainly imported from the South Bay Aqueduct, Dyer Reservoir, Lake Del Valle, and

San Luis Reservoir, which all draw water from the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta watershed. Valley Water’s

local water sources include Anderson and Calero Reservoirs. Water from imported and local sources is pumped to and treated at

three water treatment plants located in Santa Clara County.

Valley Water’s source waters are vulnerable to potential contamination from a variety of land use practices, such as agricultural and urban runoff, recreational activities, livestock grazing, and residential and industrial development. The imported sources are also vulnerable to wastewater treatment plant discharges, seawater intrusion, and wildfires in open space areas. In addition, local sources are also vulnerable to potential contamination from commercial stables and historic mining practices. No contaminant associated with any of these activities has been detected in Valley Water’s treated water. The water treatment plants provide multiple barriers for physical removal of contaminants and disinfection of pathogens. For more information, visit Valley Water’s website at www.valleywater.org.

Some Santa Clara Water is Flouridated

17. Is fluoride added to our water?

1. Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter. Fluoridation adjusts the naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water to the ideal level for protecting your teeth. Fluoridated drinking water benefits people of all ages by preventing tooth decay.

In November of 2005, the SFPUC Hetch Hetchy system completed construction of a fluoridation facility in the east bay. The water purchased by the City from the SFPUC is fluoridated, while water from Valley Water is not fluoridated. If your zip code is 95054, you are in the area receiving fluoridated water. However, this area is also served by well water that has not been fluoridated. Refer to the map that shows the area supplied with water from both the Hetch- Hetchy system and the City’s wells. The majority of the City will continue to receive water without added fluoride.

State law requires the addition of fluoride to all water systems in California serving 10,000 customers or more. In 2025, Valley Water plans to add fluoridation to the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant which services the southern portion of Santa Clara. Fluoridation of the remaining water sources in the City would require installation of fluoride injecting equipment at each of the City's 21 active wells. The law includes a provision for state funds to finance this fluoridation equipment; however; it may be some time before the state can provide funding to move forward with a fluoridation program for the remainder of the City.

Contact your health provider if you have concerns about dental fluorosis. For additional information about fluoridation or oral health, visit the CDC website www.cdc.gov/fluoridation or the State Water Board website www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/ drinkingwater/Fluoridation.shtml.

Water Quality Monitoring

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DRINKING WATER SOURCE ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION PROGRAM:

The City completed a Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) Program for the groundwater sources. The DWSAP was completed in August 2002 and submitted to the State Water Board in December 2002. A copy of the DWSAP is available at the City's Water Utility offices at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara. You may request a summary of the individual assessments by contacting the Water Utility at (408) 615-2000 or by email at watercompliance@santaclaraca.gov.

The City's groundwater sources are considered most vulnerable to contamination by leaking underground tanks containing fuel or dry- cleaning chemicals; old, unrecorded septic systems; storm drain dry wells located at various places around the City; many old, shallow, private wells, abandoned and not properly destroyed; and possibly some contaminants from a small landfill dump left over from the early years of the 20th century.

LEAD

There have been no exceedances of the ACTION LEVEL for lead in the City of Santa Clara groundwater sources or supplies purchased from other agencies. It is possible for lead levels in your home to be higher than other homes in the community because of plumbing materials used in the original construction of your home. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Santa Clara is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to

2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/lead.

SCHOOL LEAD TESTING

As of January 2018 State law requires water suppliers to sample all schools on public land by mid-2019. As of April 2019, City staff has completed all required sampling and provided results to the school districts following the testing. All samples with the exception of one sample taken at John Sutter Elementary School were well below the EPA action level for lead of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The fixture was immediately taken out of service and replaced by SCUSD staff, resampling at the site resulted in a ND (non-detect) for lead. Please contact your school administrator for information about lead testing and results for your local school. For additional information visit: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/

drinkingwater/leadsamplinginschools.html

“NITRATES” - INFORMATION ABOUT NITRATES IN GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 mg/L is a health risk for infants less than six months old. Such nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in serious illness; symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, such as pregnant women and those with certain specific enzyme deficiencies. If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

THE CITY OF

SANTA CLARA OWNS

AND OPERATES

21 ACTIVE

GROUNDWATER

WELLS.

City of Santa Clara

WATER QUALITY TABLE

Definitions and Notes

Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS) = MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) = The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as

is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL GOAL (MCLG) = The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL (MRDL) = The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MAXIMUM RESIDUAL DISINFECTANT LEVEL GOAL (MRDLG) = The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL (PHG) = The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

REGULATORY ACTION LEVEL (AL) = The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

TREATMENT TECHNIQUE (TT) = A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS = Unregulated contaminant monitoring helps EPA and State Water Resources Control Board to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether the contaminants need to be regulated.

pCi/L = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) PPM = Parts Per Million

PPB = Parts Per Billion P = Present

A = Absent

<DLR = less than Detection Limit for Reporting DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM = drinking water delivery system

RESIDENTIAL TAPS = household faucets used for lead and copper sampling

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS = chemical by products of disinfection

SECONDARY STANDARDS = secondary MCLs are set to protect the aesthetics of drinking water

NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality.

uS/cm = microSiemens per centimeter NA = not applicable or available

ND = not detected NS = no standard

Copper and Lead Tap Monitoring was performed at 77 residential taps in September-October 2019.

HARDNESS = the sum of polyvalent cations present in the water, generally magnesium and calcium. The cations are usually naturally occurring.

SODIUM = refers to the salt present in the water and is generally naturally occurring.

Attention

This report contains important information about your drinking water. Translate it, or speak with someone who understands it.

Mahalaga ang impormasyong ito. Mangyaring ipasalin ito.

Attencion: Este informe contiene informacion muy

importante sobre su agua beber. Traduzcalo o hable con

alguien que lo entienda bien.

PFAS

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as “PFAS” are a group of chemicals that have been widely used in industrial applications and consumer products such as carpets, clothing, furniture fabrics, paper packaging for food, firefighting foams, and other materials including waterproof/stain resistant/ nonstick cookware. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are two common types of PFAS. The City has completed monitoring for PFAS compounds at select well sites based on proximity to a potential source of contamination (airports which are known to have used aqueous film foaming agents for fire suppression and training). No PFAS compounds have been detected.

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND GIARDIA IN WATER RESOURCES:

Cryptosporidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract brought on by a parasitic microbe (a protozoan) called Cryptosporidium. The disease is transmitted through contaminated water, food or direct contact with human or animal waste. If you are healthy with a normal immune system, the flu-like symptoms usually last about two weeks. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, upset stomach

and slight fever. However, immuno-compromised people, infants, small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life- threatening illness.

The water purchased by the City from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Hetch Hetchy system has been tested for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The source waters and treated waters are tested at least monthly and occasionally show very low levels of Cryptosporidium in the waters serving the East Bay, South Bay and San Francisco Peninsula. Giardia, another parasitic organism causing similar symptoms, is monitored with the same frequency and very low levels are occasionally detected in the same source waters.

The general public is at very low risk and there have been no reported cases of Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis attributed to the City’s public water supply. This advisory applies to water received from the Hetch Hetchy system in the area of the City north of Highway 101. The CDPH issues guidance for people with serious immune system problems. Currently, available guidance from the state and county health agencies recommends that people with such conditions consult with their doctor or primary health care provider about preventing Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection from all potential sources. Water consumers may choose to boil their drinking water at a rolling boil for at least one minute as an extra precaution.

For information about Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis, or copies of available guidance, contact the Santa Clara County Department of

Environmental Health at 408 918-3400. You may also contact the USEPA Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

CONTAMINANTS THAT OCCUR IN DRINKING WATER OBTAINED FROM SURFACE SOURCES AND UNDERGROUND SOURCES:

Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or resulting from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming;
• Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses;
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals. that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems;
• Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

City of Santa Clara 1500 Warburton Ave. Santa Clara, CA 95050 408-615-2200

SantaClaraCA.gov

Water Utility

1500 Warburton Ave. Santa Clara, CA 95050 Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday-Friday

408-615-2000

Water Billing Questions 408-615-2300

Water Quality Report Questions Diane Asuncion 408-615-2000

watercompliance@santaclaraca.gov

Water Emergencies

408-615-2000 Monday-Friday,

8 a.m.-5 p.m.

408-615-5640 other days and times

Valley Water Water Conservation

Save20gallons.org

408-630-2554 – Water Conservation Hotline and Rebate Information

Sign up for a free Water-Wise House Call from Valley Water by calling 1-800-548-1882

Resources

If you would like to learn more about drinking water quality, treatment and regulation, contact these organizations:

American Water Works Association: awwa.org

State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water: waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/ programs/index.shtml

United States Environmental Protection Agency: water.epa.gov/drink

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Water Quality Bureau:

sfwater.org

Valley Water:

valleywater.org

Water Education Foundation:

watereducation.org

Water Quality Information Center: http://wqic.nal.usda.gov/

Public Input

To provide input on decisions that affect drinking water quality, provide input to the Santa Clara City Council at a Council meeting or in advance to mayorandcouncil@ santaclaraca.gov or call 408-615-2250. A list of all City Council meetings, agenda items and study sessions can be viewed on the City website SantaClaraCA.gov.

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