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Based on current interest rates, the expected impact of the annual debt services <br />associated with a SRF loan on the City's water rates is approximately an $9.50 increase <br />to bi-monthly water bills. <br />BACKGROUND <br />PFAS are a large group of man-made substances that have been extensively used <br />since the 1940s in common consumer products designed to be waterproof, stain - <br />resistant, or nonstick. In addition, these substances have been used in fire - <br />retarding foam and various industrial processes. PFAS are unregulated <br />contaminants of emerging concern in drinking water due to their health impacts and <br />tendency to accumulate in groundwater. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and <br />perfluorooctanoicacid (PFOA) are the most studied substances and are the focus of <br />initial regulatory efforts in California. The EPA and DDW have provided tentative <br />schedules to begin regulating PFAS by establishing MCLs for PFOA and PFOS by <br />late 2023 — early 2024. EPA and DDW have also started the process of reviewing <br />other PFAS for possible regulation, but a schedule has not yet been identified. The <br />City began testing its groundwater for PFAS in the second quarter of 2019 in <br />compliance with general orders issued by DDW to numerous water agencies. Test <br />results have shown that the City's Wells 5, 6, and 8 groundwater supply facilities <br />contain the presence of PFAS. Well 8 contains the presence of PFOS above <br />advisory levels and as a result, has not been operating since June 2019. <br />On September 1, 2020, City Council supported a work plan to address PFAS that: <br />• Prioritizes efforts on advancing the planning, design, and construction of <br />self -implemented PFAS treatment at City wells. <br />• Explores regional alternatives with Zone 7 on a parallel path. <br />To begin the process of self -implemented PFAS treatment, the City established <br />CIP21166 - PFAS Treatment and Wells Rehabilitation Project (Project). The goal of <br />the Project is to extend the useful life of Wells 5, 6, and 8 as safe, reliable, and <br />locally controlled sources of water for the City by: <br />• Implementing a PFAS treatment system that can reduce concentrations to meet <br />the City's low -treatment goal (defined as the consumer confidence report <br />detection levels listed in the current DOW Order DW-2020-0003-DDW). <br />• Rehabilitating and/or replacing the well facilities to extend their useful <br />life by 30 years to be comparable to the useful life of a new PFAS <br />treatment system. <br />• Allowing for expansion of the PFAS treatment system site to accommodate <br />potential future water treatment regulations. <br />• Implement improvements in a timely fashion to increase probability of <br />commissioning facilities prior to the required PFAS regulatory compliance date and <br />reduce the risk/duration for purchasing supplemental water from Zone 7. <br />On June 15, 2021, the City Council received a presentation on the Basis of Design <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />