OCWD PFAS Update

February 21, 2020

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are chemicals that are prevalent in the environment and were once commonly used in many consumer products. They are part of a larger group referred to as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Due to the prolonged use of PFOA and PFOS, the chemicals are now being detected in water sources throughout the United States.

Overview

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

PFOA and PFOS are chemicals that are prevalent in the environment and were once commonly used in many consumer products. Through an ongoing investigation, California and states throughout the United States have found that PFAS have made their way into our groundwater, particularly near airports and military bases where these chemicals are commonly used.

OCWD and local water retailers are actively engaged with federal and state regulators and elected and appointed officials on this issue. As part of its commitment to transparency, OCWD provides regular PFAS updates to community stakeholders.

For more background information, please see the materials below:

OCWD PFAS Video

Updated! Fact Sheet

FAQ

Regulatory Happenings

This week, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced its proposal to regulate PFOA and PFOS in drinking water by making a preliminary regulatory determination for the two contaminants, as required under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Once the official notice is published in the Federal Register, a 60-day comment period will begin.

Earlier this month, the California Division of Drinking Water (DDW) released new advisory Response Levels for PFOA and PFOS . The levels, 10 parts per trillion (ppt) and 40 ppt respectively, are among the lowest in the nation. While not mandatory, the Response Levels recommend that water suppliers not serve water with PFOA and PFOS above these levels. Along with the announcement, the state also issued an FAQ with guidance related to AB 756 and its public notification requirements for detections of PFAS chemicals at various thresholds.

The State Water Resources Control Board has previously indicated that Notification and Response Levels for additional PFAS compounds will be issued later this year.

Local Activities

Given the new Response Levels for PFOA and PFOS, retail water agencies throughout Orange County have voluntarily taken drinking water wells out of service.

Not having all of our local water supplies available this year will temporarily result in increased reliance on costlier water supplies imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. Long-term, water agencies in Orange County are planning on constructing and operating new treatment systems that will remove PFAS from drinking water wells.

To read OCWD’s response to the state’s recent action, please see the District’s press release .

OCWD’s pilot program to test methods for removing PFAS from water is well underway. The pilot has been operating for approaching three months and to date, all results have been non-detect. The first Rapid Small Scale Column Tests (RSSCT) have been completed using water from the pilot test well and we have begun individual RSSCT assessments of impacted water retailer wells. Still to be loaded are the novel adsorbents, and we’ll continue to update you as the pilot progresses.

The OCWD PFAS Planning Study is also ongoing. Carollo and OCWD continue to meet with individual water retailers to discuss site specific treatment options. The District also issued two RFPs to follow on this effort: PFAS Treatment Systems On Call Design Services and PFAS Dual Media Pressure Vessel Procurement Services.

Last November, the OCWD Board of Directors approved a PFAS Treatment Policy. The policy outlines key principles for addressing PFAS, including how the District will support retailers in paying for capital and operation and maintenance costs to treat for PFAS, and policies related to cost recovery efforts. The District continues to work with retailers to revise the policy and the draft agreements that will accompany it.

Finally, t he Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) Emerging Contaminants Task Force met this week to discuss the results from emerging contaminants sampling, including PFAS, that was conducted in the Santa Ana Watershed last August. It is anticipated the report will be finalized by this spring and will be presented by SAWPA at a public meeting of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board later this year.

Media

PFOA and PFOS 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. OCWD continues to monitor what is happening around the country on this issue.

OC Register: ‘Forever chemicals’ trigger widespread closure of water wells

Bloomberg: Nearly half the country working on PFAS rules as EPA drags its feet

Bloomberg Environment: California County shuts down fifth of water wells over PFAS

Water Finance & Management: California water agencies remove wells following new PFAS requirements

Fullerton Observer: Water Update – PFAS and the cost of cleanup

NRDC: CA lagging behind on PFAS, but has the chance to do it right

Valley News: Local water supplies impacted by new state guidance on PFAS

San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Pico Rivera water exceeds thresholds for ‘forever chemicals,’ but wells not shut down

Click here for more info on PFOA / PFOS