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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 354-05I' City of Palo Alto City Manager's Report TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES DATE: AUGUST 8, 2005 CMR:354:05 SUBJECT: CHANGE IN FLUORIDATION OF PALO ALTO'S DRINKING WATER FROM CITY OF PALO ALTO TREATMENT TO THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (SFPUC) SUNOL VALLEY FLUORIDATION FACILITY This is an informational report and no Council action is required. BACKGROUND In September 2005 (an exact date is yet to be established) San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will begin adding fluoride to the drinking water SFPUC provides to all of its customers, including the City of Palo Alto. City staff will be implementing a Fluoride Treatment Conversion Plan in conjunction with the startup of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Sunol Valley Fluoridation Facility. Staffwill coordinate turning off Palo Alto's fluoride treatment equipment when the SFPUC begins fluoride treatment of the Retch Retchy water supply. According to SFPUC's plan, fluoride will be added to the Retch Retchy water supply and be delivered to all of its Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BA WSCA) customers (i.e., SFPUC wholesale customers located in Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties). This transition from the City of Palo Alto fluoride treatment to the SFPUC will not be noticed by the public and there will be no impacts on taste and odor or any public health impacts. DISCUSSION In 1956, Palo Alto residents voted to have their water supply fluoridated and the City Manager was authorized and directed to supply fluoridated water by a change to the Municipal Code. The conversion of fluoride treatment from Palo Alto to SFPUC will require an amendment to the City'S Department of Realth Services (DRS) water system operation permit. Currently, staff is working on the permit amendment, application that is CMR:354:05 Page lof3 being filed with DHS. City staff has already had discussions with DHS staff who have indicated that it will be acceptable for the City to terminate the fluoride treatment systems two to three days prior to the SFPUC startup to avoid any situation where the SFPUC would be adding fluoride at the same time as the City. Palo Alto currently fluoridates the water supply at a level between 0.8 and 1.4 mg/l in accordance with DHS regulations and the Municipal Code. The SVFF will treat the Hetch Hetchy supply in nearly the same range as Palo Alto (0.9 to 1.5 mg/l) with the goal to maintain the fluoride level in the water supply a 1 mg/I. Staffwill continue discussions with the SFUPC and DHS to coordinate this conversion. Unlike the recent conversion to chloramines from chlorine that required significantly advanced planning and changes to the operation of the Palo Alto water system, conversion of fluoride treatment to the SVFF will be an extremely seamless prpcess. Although SFPUC assumes full responsibility at the regional level for this conversion, City staffwill continue to monitor fluoride levels in the Palo Alto system. RESOURCE IMPACT No additional funding is required for this project. There will be an initial cost savings of funds currently being used for purchase of fluoride and maintenance of the fluoridation equipment. However, the initial saving will be offset by the anticipated water rate increase that is being considered by SFPUC. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Section 12.24.010(a) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code states: "The city manager is hereby authorized and directed to take the necessary steps and means to add sufficient amounts of an approved fluoride compound to all water served to consumers in the city of Palo Alto to produce and maintain at all times in all parts of the distribution system one part of fluoride toone million parts of water." To avoid double dosing of fluoride, at least three days prior to the conversion, the City must stop adding fluoride to the drinking water. During this period, there may be no detectable amount of fluoride in the water. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA and no further environmental review is necessary. PREPARED BY: J~ f!j{~ J avad GhaffarY, Interim Manger, WGWO .. CMR:354:05 Page 2 of3 j DEPARTMENT APPROVAL: Paul Dornell / Interim istant Director of Utilities CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: .iLO Assistant City Manager CMR:354:05 Page 3 of3 ., \.