Highlights from May 2024

At the Orange County Water District, we prioritize ongoing discussions and collaboration with our state and federal officials and advocate for Orange County’s water supply at any chance we get. Recently, our agency had the opportunity to have these important discussions at the ACWA Spring Conference in Sacramento and during a federal legislative visit to Washington D.C. 

For OCWD, our priorities are to continue to remove PFAS from impacted areas within the groundwater basin, hold polluters accountable, seek funding to offset costs, and advocate for an exemption from cleanup liability to protect water and wastewater agencies and their ratepayers. Other priorities are to protect our basin from seawater intrusion and implement Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam to increase stormwater capture. 

We also shared with our state and federal representatives our desire to explore sediment removal behind Prado Dam as sediment buildup can impact the amount of stormwater we’re able to capture and recharge into the groundwater basin. Addressing sediment removal at Prado can maximize our water resources and also potentially support sand replenishment in coastal communities. 

We are committed to making significant progress on these initiatives that protect and enhance Orange County’s water supplies.

OCWD is the winner of not just one but two awards from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), a statewide association committed to advancing public sector communications.

Through its Excellence in Public Information and Communications (EPIC) awards program, OCWD received an EPIC award for our dedication event as we commemorated the final expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). Our entry scored so highly we also received the Best in Show Award, which was given to only five of the 400+ entries. We are thrilled to share these awards with our project partners Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) and are thankful to CAPIO for recognizing the work done by our hard-working staff in leading an event of this magnitude. 

Did you catch this cool story in the New York Times Kids Science section in April? We were pleased to play a role in shaping this piece, by sharing insights into the world of water reuse and providing GWRS water for a taste test.

But remember, it's not toilet-to-tap. Wastewater is all things generated by indoor water use - showers, laundry, dishwashers, sinks, and yes, even toilet flushes. Wastewater is collected by OC San where it is treated through several processes. It's then ready to be sent to the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world's largest water recycling facility operated by OCWD.

After going through a three-step advanced purification process, 130 million gallons of high-quality water is produced and used to refill the Orange County Groundwater Basin and protect it from seawater intrusion. All this water is eventually pumped out and served to 2.5 million people in Orange County.

Sounds like a smart investment to us!

Missed our latest webinar or want to catch a replay?

A recording is now available for our May webinar, "Addressing Groundwater Contamination in the Southern Portion of the Orange County Groundwater Basin," featuring speakers from OCWD, Department of Toxic Substances Control and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The webinar highlighted the South Basin Groundwater Protection Project, which focuses on a two-square-mile portion of the groundwater aquifer located under Irvine, Santa Ana and Tustin, where industrial chemicals left behind from decades-old manufacturing have contaminated the shallow portion of the groundwater. While not the responsible party, OCWD is working on ways to clean up the pollution in a collaborative effort with state and federal regulatory agencies.

OCWD team members will be out at two different community events on Saturday, June 8. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by our table and say hello!

OC San Open House

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

18480 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

As part of its 70^th anniversary celebration, OC San is hosting an open house event complete with guided tours, interactive booths, free ice cream and more!

This is an opportunity to connect with your community, learn about essential services, and enjoy a day out with family and friends. Whether you're interested in environmental science, local government, or just looking for a fun outing, there's something for everyone at the OC San Open House.

OC Green Expo

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

201 W Center Street Promenade, Anaheim, CA 92805

Anaheim Public Utilities will host the annual OC Green Expo to connect Anaheim and the greater Orange County community with sustainable resources, organizations, and vendors. The event encourages water and energy conservation, waste reduction, and promotes clean energy vehicles through an electric vehicle test drive.

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.