Highlights from July 2024

I recently joined Orange County leaders, brought together by Assemblymember Diane Dixon, to discuss the critical “business of beaches.” We tackled pressing issues such as sand replenishment and coastal resiliency, which are essential for the health and sustainability of our coastal communities.

Our beaches face severe sand depletion due to atmospheric river storms, urbanization, and infrastructure development. In response, the Orange County Water District (OCWD) has taken a leadership role, collaborating with regional partners and legislative officials to highlight the availability of sediment, or sand, behind Prado Dam.

OCWD, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, manages stormwater behind the dam, releasing it at controlled rates to enhance our water supply. However, sediment buildup behind the dam reduces stormwater storage capacity. To address this, OCWD is exploring innovative ways to extract sediment for beneficial uses, such as coastal sand replenishment and local construction projects. This approach not only manages sediment but also provides significant regional benefits including maintaining a more sustainable water supply.

While this sounds like a win-win situation, the challenge lies in the cost. Transporting large amounts of sand is expensive, with an estimated annual expense of up to $60 million for the sand from Prado Dam alone. What’s the solution? We are actively exploring both public and private partnerships to secure the necessary funding. Through our collaborative efforts, we aim to enhance coastal resiliency, protect our beaches for future generations, and optimize Orange County’s water supply.

Have you reviewed your water quality report? Orange County water retailers have published their annual consumer confidence report highlighting the exceptional quality of water provided to homes and businesses. As stewards of the Orange County Groundwater Basin, we are proud to maintain high water quality standards and support our 19 cities and retail water districts with data and information featured in these reports.

Your drinking water is carefully monitored from its source to your tap. Our team implements a comprehensive monitoring program, collecting real-time data on our water supply. We take samples from 400 monitoring wells, testing for over 500 compounds, far exceeding state and federal requirements. Annually, we collect around 20,000 samples and report more than 400,000 results, ensuring the safety and quality of our water.

As a layer of added assurance, our 19 cities and retail water districts conduct further testing throughout their distribution system every year to ensure that when the water is pumped from the basin and sent to the tap, it is safe and refreshing for all to enjoy.

Next time you quench your thirst, grab a glass from your local tap and appreciate the extensive monitoring and testing that ensures every drop is clean and of the highest quality. Cheers!

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has formally approved the 2022 periodic update to the groundwater sustainability plan for the Orange County Groundwater Basin (Basin 8-1). This "Basin 8-1 Alternative Update," prepared by OCWD in collaboration with the city of La Habra and the Irvine Ranch Water District, serves as an alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

The first Basin 8-1 Alternative, submitted in 2017, was approved in 2019. SGMA requires that these plans be updated every five years to ensure sustainable management of the basin and document its conditions. DWR's approval of the 2022 update confirms that the Orange County Groundwater Basin continues to be managed sustainably, meeting all SGMA requirements. This approval showcases OCWD's dedication to maintaining high standards in groundwater management, ensuring a reliable water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County.

Employee of the Second Quarter



Congratulations to John Merlo, Environmental Specialist, who was named the 2024 Employee of the Second Quarter! John shows exceptional initiative in overseeing the Coastal Seawater Intrusion Monitoring Program, one of the Water Quality Department's largest monitoring programs, which manages around 300 coastal monitoring wells. These wells require monthly water level data collection and semi-annual sample collection.

John effectively manages his workload to ensure timely sampling of all the wells and has come up with creative strategies to optimize available staff and equipment, maximizing productivity on sampling days. Additionally, John demonstrates exceptional mechanical abilities in maintaining the various submersible pumps and multiple ice machines which are critical for preserving sample integrity on a daily basis. Thank you for your great work and contributions to the District, John! 

GM John Kennedy Invited to Share Expertise During Singapore International Water Week



OCWD is known worldwide for its leadership, innovation and collaboration in water management. These qualities were on full display recently at Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), a global conference where more than 24,000 water and city leaders, delegates and trade visitors from governments, cities, and utilities gathered to share knowledge and best practices and foster new partnerships to tackle water challenges.

General Manager John Kennedy not only presented on the District’s groundwater management initiatives and the Groundwater Replenishment System - the world's largest water recycling facility - but also discussed the District's robust response to PFAS. Additionally, he had the honor of speaking with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The two are pictured here at the Lee Kwan Yew Water Prize 2024 Award Ceremony & Banquet, where the District’s past receipt of this prestigious award is proudly displayed behind them.

(Photo credit: Singapore International Water Week 2024)

Maximizing water extraction efficiency is vital for water-stressed regions like southern California. Reverse osmosis (RO), a key process in potable reuse and brackish water treatment since the 1970s, typically leaves 15-20% of the feed flow as concentrate. This concentrate is a potential water source that advanced high-recovery RO technologies can tap into.

This webinar will explore cutting-edge solutions for enhancing water production. Attendees will learn about:

• High-recovery RO pilot studies by the Orange County Water District and the City of Santa Monica
• Santa Monica’s pioneering full-scale flow-reversal RO installation
• How these technologies can significantly increase water recovery and address regional water scarcity

Featured speakers: 

• Han Gu, Ph.D., Senior Scientist/Process Specialist, Orange County Water District
• Alex Waite, P.E., Supervising Civil Engineer, City of Santa Monica

Join us for the 16th annual OC Water Summit as we dive into the impact of innovative financial strategies, cutting-edge technology, and solutions to the pressing challenges of water management. Co-hosted by the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the Orange County Water District, this interactive forum fosters discussion on new and ongoing water supply challenges, water policy issues, and other critical topics impacting our economy and public health.

Join master of ceremonies Fritz Coleman and hundreds of business professionals, elected officials, water industry stakeholders, and community leaders as the OC Water Summit explores "Liquid Logic: The Fusion of Finance, Tech, and Water".

OC Water Summit

Friday, September 27, 2024

7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa

Learn about OCWD's role in providing a safe, reliable, local water supply by attending an event, webinar or tour. Individuals and groups are invited to tour the award-winning GWRS and other District facilities.

Through our active speakers bureau program, you may request for our expert staff to come speak to organizations and schools, as well as local, national and international conferences.