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PFAS have been detected in the Orange County Groundwater Basin managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD), which provides 77% of the water supply to 2.5 million people. OCWD and its local water suppliers continue making significant headway on new PFAS treatment facilities with the goal of getting all wells back online by 2024 at a capital cost of $277 million.

8,074,206,534 gallons

of water treated

to date

*as of 11/21/2022

There are 58 impacted wells in Orange County

Orange County Water District Won Groundwater Resources Association's Kevin J. Neese Award

The Orange County Water District was named the 2022 winner of the Groundwater Resources Association's Kevin J. Neese award for its robust PFAS treatment program. The award recognizes a significant accomplishment that fosters the understanding, development, protection, and management of groundwater.

Read the press release.

OCWD & Serrano Water District Dedicated One of the County's First Ion Exchange PFAS Treatment Plants

Congresswoman Young Kim helped Orange County Water District and Serrano Water District dedicate Serrano's C.L. “Larry” Pharris Jr. Filtration Plant on September 23rd. The PFAS facility treats 4.6 million gallons of water per day from its two groundwater wells.

Watch the dedication recap video.

OC Water Provider Highlight

The City of Orange recently began operating four treatment plants, which combined can treat up to 7,500 gallons of water per minute.

Orange had eight of its groundwater wells impacted by PFAS, prompting it to temporarily shut down those wells and transition to purchasing imported water.

Construction of the four facilities took about a year to complete and are among 36 PFAS treatment facilities being designed and constructed by Orange County Water District.

Read the press release.

Make Your Voice Heard!

Orange County Water District has created a platform – through its PFAS Education Center - to help you take action in reaching out to the Orange County federal legislators about the importance of upholding the polluter pays principle and protecting ratepayers from the costs of treating PFAS in our water supplies. You can quickly and easily fill out this form to make your voice heard.

STATE & FEDERAL ACTIONS

State Issues Notification and Response Levels for perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in Drinking Water

Under the authority of the Deputy Director of the State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water (Division), California issued a Notification Level of 3 parts per trillion (ppt) and a Response Level of 20 ppt for perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS).

Notification and Response Levels are non-regulatory, health-based advisory levels established for contaminants in drinking water for which enforceable maximum contaminant levels have not been established.

A total of 90 wells in Orange County Water District's service area received new monitoring orders, excluding those wells with treatment systems in place. OCWD will begin quarterly monitoring in the first quarter of 2023.

For information on notification and response levels, please visit: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/NotificationLevels.html

State Expected to Issue NL for PFHxA

The State Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is expected to announce a recommended Notification Level for PFHxA in early 2023. PFHxA has been identified in the Orange County Groundwater Basin and will continue to be monitored by OCWD.

USEPA Issues Final List of Contaminants for Potential Regulatory Consideration in Drinking Water, Significantly Increases PFAS Chemicals for Review

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Final Fifth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), which will serve as the basis for EPA’s regulatory considerations over the next five-year cycle under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This update includes a substantial expansion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), an important first step towards identifying additional PFAS that may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

USEPA Highlights Year-In-Review For PFAS Response

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released an end-of-year report highlighting the actions it has taken to address PFAS contamination and what actions it will pursue next year.

The report noted that the Agency continues to follow the regulatory agenda outlined in the PFAS Strategic Roadmap and continue work to invest the $10 billion in federal funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address PFAS contamination.

USEPA also announced that it will hold virtual stakeholder engagement events in its ten regions next year. It will provide updates on the upcoming events and public input opportunities on its website.

IN THE NEWS

PFAS are not exclusive to Orange County or even California. States across the country are in the midst of tackling PFAS in consumer products, groundwater supplies and other forms of contact. Here's what's happening around the country:

RESOURCES

ACWA PFAS Fact Sheet

UCI PFAS Health Study

The Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) supplies clean, reliable drinking water to 2.5 million customers every day. OCWD and the local water suppliers in its service area are committed to operating in compliance with all state and federal guidelines and regulatory requirements.

For more information about PFAS, please visit OCWD's PFAS Education Center.