This report summarizes the results of thousands of analyses conducted on your drinking water during 2020. At the City of Alhambra, a team of professionals work around the clock to make sure your tap water meets or exceeds all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State Water Resources Control Board - Department of Drinking Water (SWRCB-DDW) standards. We encourage landlords, business owners, and schools to share this report with “non-billed” water users. In addition, a paper copy of this report is also available at the Alhambra Public Library, Alhambra City Hall and Utilities Department Customer Service Center.

IMPORTANT FOR THE IMMUNO-COMPROMISED

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised 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 may be particularly at risk with infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The USEPA/Center for Disease Control and Prevention (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 at (800) 426-4791.

NITRATE

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

LEAD

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 Alhambra 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 or http://www.epa.gov/lead.

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT

The City of Alhambra Utilities Department has conducted Drinking Water Sources Assessments for its ground water sources. The latest assessment was completed in April 2009. Sources are considered most vulnerable to the following activities associated with contaminants detected in the water supply: auto repair shops, sewer collection systems, dry cleaners, irrigated crops, leaking underground storage tanks, high density housing and historic dump and landfill sites. A summary of the assessment can be obtained by contacting Michael Thai, Environmental Compliance Specialist, at (626) 570-3259.

ALHAMBRA WATER SUPPLY INFORMATION

The City of Alhambra maintains approximately 18,300 service connections and provides approximatley 83,000 customers with quality drinking water that meets or surpasses all State and Federal drinking waterstandards. The City’s main source of water (70%) comes from local groundwater from Main San Gabriel Water Basin. An additional source of water (30%) comes from a service connection with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). The MWD water is surface water from Colorado River and State Water Project which is treated at the Weymouth Treatment Plant within the City of La Verne and transported via transmission main to the City of Alhambra.

COMPREHENSIVE WATER QUALITY MONITORING

Alhambra Utilities Department works diligently to ensure that your water complies with all state and federal drinking water standards. This is a comprehensive effort that includes monitoring and testing for many types of contaminants that may be present in source water (i.e., water before treatment), including:

• Microbials, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganics, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result 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 chemicals, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, or that may 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.

Primary Drinking Water Standards set limits for substances in water that may be harmful to humans if consumed in excess. They include MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring, reporting requirements, and water treatment requirements.

Secondary Drinking Water Standards deal with aesthetic qualities such as taste and odor which relate to consumer acceptance rather than health factors.

DEFINITIONS

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.

ABBREVIATIONS

CaCO3: Calcium Carbonate

mg/L: Milligrams per liter (which is equal to parts per million).

µg/L: Micrograms per liter (which is equal to parts per billion).

ppm: Parts per million (which is equal to milligrams per liter).

ppb: Parts per billion (which is equal to micrograms per liter).

µmhos/cm: Micromhos/centimeter. pCi/L= Pico Curies per Liter.

NTU: Nephelometric turbidity units.

ND: The substance could not be found at the minimum amount that can be detected.

NR: Not Required (no laboratory testing is required)

NA: Not Applicable.

NL: Notification Level (if the contaminant is detected at this level, then certain requirements and recommendations apply).

MWD: Metropolitan Water District

NA: Not Applicable.

Typical Source of contaminants

Corrosion of household plumbing system

Corrosion of household plumbing system

Water Conservation

Water conservation remains the most responsible way to reduce our demand for water and conserve our water supply. Water supply is greatly affected by regional drought, growth in population, and climate change. The need to conserve water is critical, as we all play a role in water usage. However, there are many effective ways we can help save water in and around our home. With these simple changes in our daily routines, we can reduce our water footprint and protect this valuable resource for future generations. The City of Alhambra is currently under Water Shortage Plan I Voluntary Conservation, Chapter 15.25.080 of the Alhambra Municipal Code. For more information please visit

http://www.cityofalhambra.org/resourses/mandatory-water-restrictions.

Reduce Your Water Bill – Rebates with San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

As a resident of Alhambra, the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District offers financial incentives to help you purchase water saving appliances and fixtures. Not only will you be able to reduce your water bill, but you will also be conserving more water to reduce the demand to our water supply. The following rebates include:

• Up to $60 per rain barrel or $350 per cistern
• Up to $110 for a water efficient washing machine
• Up to $80 for weather based irrigation controller or soil moisture sensor system
• Up to $40 for high-efficiency toilet
• Up to $150 for commercial waterless urinal
• Up to $2 per nozzle (minimum 30) for rotating sprinkler nozzles

For more information, please call (855) 512-1221 or visit www.sgvmwd.org

Water Saving Tips for Home

• Install water efficient showerheads, toilets, and faucet aerators.
• Regularly check and repair water leaks around the home.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, driveways, and sidewalks.
• Water lawns and gardens in cooler morning or evening hours.
• Support efforts to expand water conservation and storm water capture.
• Landscape with CA native plants or drought tolerant plants.
• Increase engagement with water conservation awareness and rebate programs.

California Water Use Restrictions

• Potable water may not be used to wash down sidewalks and driveways.
• Runoff caused by irrigation is prohibited.
• Vehicles must be washed using a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
• Outdoor irrigation is prohibited during and within 48 hours following measureable rainfall.
• Decorative water features must use recirculated water.

Stormwater Capture

The most natural form of replenishing water supply is through stormwater or rainwater. During a storm event, much of the stormwater either soaks into the ground or evaporates. Critically, water that is not taken up by plants can infiltrate below the surface and help contribute, or recharge, underground wells and groundwater aquifers. Many factors influence the amount of stormwater captured including, the permeability of soils, how much permeable surfaces are exposed, the amount moisture that is retained in the soil, slope, as well as many other factors. Stormwater capture is a growing field that can greatly contribute to water supply and water quality. Capturing runoff using these approaches would increase the sustainability of California’s water supplies, while reducing water pollution. For more information on how the City is addressing stormwater, please visit Chapter 16.34: Storm Water and Urban Runoff Pollution Control of the Alhambra Municipal Code.

Safe Clean Water Program

The Safe Clean Water Program, also known as Measure W, creates a comprehensive, regional plan to address how we capture rainwater and reduce reliance on imported water. Cities will receive funding for the program through revenue generated from Measure W; the parcel tax approved by the Los Angeles County voters in November 2018. As the city of Alhambra begins to implement the Safe Clean Water Program, some goals of the plan developed in collaboration with public health, environmental groups, cities, businesses, labor, and community-based organizations include:

• Implement a new plan for L.A.’s water system to capture the billions of gallons of water we lose each year.
• Help protect our coastal waters and beaches from the trash and contaminants in stormwater that make people sick and threaten marine life.
• Modernize our 100 year-old water system infrastructure, using a combination of nature, science, and new technology.
• Help protect public health, ensuring safer, greener, healthier, and more livable spaces for all.
• Prepare our region for the effects of a changing climate — including recurring cycles of drought, wildfire, and flooding.
• Require strict community oversight and independent auditing to ensure local money raised would stay local.

For more information please visit www.safecleanwaterla.org

State-Required Treatment Processes to Remove Viruses, Including COVID-19

The City of Alhambra’s comprehensive and safe drinking water standards require a multi-step treatment process that includes disinfection. This process removes and kills viruses, including coronaviruses such as COVID-19, as well as bacteria and other pathogens.

The State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water establishes and enforces drinking water standards that ensure the delivery of safe and potable water. Treatment facilities must comply with stringent performance measures to ensure treatment processes are continuously operating at peak performance.

The treatment process must destroy at least 99.99% of viruses. The limited number that possibly might pass through are quickly inactivated in the disinfection process. COVID-19 is transmitted person to person, not through drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All public water systems in California are routinely monitored for bacteria to ensure that water delivered to customers is free of pathogens. The City of Alhambra works closely with the State Water Board to ensure the safety of water that flows through the city to our customers.

Fats, Oils, and Grease Program (FOG)

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are by-products that food service establishments must constantly manage. Typically, FOG enters a facility’s plumbing system from dish washing, floor cleaning, and equipment sanitation. FOG poured down kitchen drains accumulates inside sewer pipes. As it builds up, the flow through the pipe is restricted and can cause sanitary sewer overflows (SSO). The end result is sewage backup into homes, streets, and storm drains. These SSO’s can damage property, harm the environment, and create major health hazards. Here are some best management practices that anyone can utilize to minimize the amount of FOG going down the drain.

FOG Dos:

• Pour (cooled) used cooking oil into a sealable container and place it in the trash, or contact a local recycler for larger amounts of used cooking oil.
• Clean dishes, pots, and pans with a scraper or squeegee, and empty into a trash can prior to washing.
• Wipe dishes, pots, and pans with dry paper towels to remove residual FOG (this also includes salad dressings, ice cream, and frozen yogurt), then throw the paper towels away.
• Use a sink drain to catch food scraps.

FOG Don’ts:

24. Do not use a garbage disposal or food grinder to dispose of grease.

24. Do not pour cooking oil or other FOG materials down the sink, toilet, street gutters, or storm drains.

24. Do not use cloth towels or rags to wipe grease or oil.