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PFAS have been detected in the Orange County Groundwater Basin managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD), which provides 85% of the water supply to 2.5 million people. PFAS are a family of chemicals that have been used in a multitude of consumer products. Recent state and federal regulations have placed strict limits on the occurrence of these chemicals in the drinking water supply. OCWD and its local water suppliers continue making significant headway in constructing new treatment facilities to remove PFAS from our groundwater. The estimated cost of addressing PFAS in Orange County over the next 30 years is approximately $1.8 billion.

30,452,965,133 gallons of water treated to date

*as of 3/31/24

PFAS IMPACTS IN ORANGE COUNTY

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102

wells impacted

wells back online

impacted retailers

Federal Updates

EPA Sets Drinking Water Standards for Six PFAS Compounds

On April 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially set the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PFOA and PFOS at 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt), the MCL for PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA at 10 ppt, and established a Hazard Index of 1 for any mixture of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and HFPO-DA.

With these new MCLs in place, approximately 40 more wells within the OCWD service area will be affected, bringing the total number of PFAS-impacted wells to 102. Consistent with the requirements of the new MCLs, water providers have three years to complete initial monitoring and share results with the public, and five years to implement solutions to reduce PFAS levels.

OCWD and its water retailers will work expeditiously to design and construct more PFAS treatment plants to restore impacted groundwater wells within EPA's required five-year compliance period. Going forward, we will also propose that the state regulations and enforcement should mirror the federal five-year compliance period.

Passive Receiver Protections Receive Overwhelming Support

More than 250 PFAS-impacted entities submitted letters to Congress urging that any legislation addressing PFAS cleanup also include liability protections for passive receivers, such as water and sanitation industries.

The strong support from agencies across the country echoes the sentiments of Orange County water agencies who have pushed for exemption from liability and have taken PFAS polluters to court to hold them accountable.

Among the entities submitting letters were the American Water Works Association, National Water Resources Association, Golden State Water Company, Orange County Sanitation District, and two letters from the Orange County Water District. A complete agency listing with links to their letters may be found on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works website.

PFOA and PFOS Designated Hazardous Substances Under Superfund

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. The April 19 designation seeks to make polluters, not taxpayers, pay for investigations and cleanup. Under CERCLA, entities are required to report PFOA and PFAS releases that meet or exceed one pound within a 24 hour period.

The EPA also issued a CERCLA enforcement discretion policy which describes how they will hold manufacturers responsible for releasing PFAS into the environment. Community water systems, such as OCWD and its water retailers, will not be subject to enforcement action by the EPA. However, the policy is nonbinding. In addition, the policy could lead to increased disposal costs for water treatment residuals.

OCWD will continue to pursue legislative solutions that hold polluters accountable for PFAS cleanup costs and protect water and wastewater agencies from liability.

State Updates

State Sets Monitoring Orders for DACs

The State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water enacted a new general order requiring PFAS monitoring orders for nearly 3,780 additional wells across 1,190 systems statewide. Of those, six small mutual water systems are located within OCWD's service area.

They are:

Eastside Water Association, Midway City, Unincorporated
Hynes Estates Mutual Water Company, Stanton
Liberty Park Water Association, Huntington Beach
Midway City Mutual Water Company, Midway City, Unincorporated
Page Avenue Mutual Water Company, Fullerton
South Midway City Mutual Water Company, Midway City, Unincorporated

Per the Budget Act of 2022, water systems serving disadvantaged communities (DACs) are eligible for free initial sampling and testing.

OEHHA Adopts Public Health Goals for PFOA and PFOS

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) adopted and published Public Health Goals (PHGs) for two PFAS compounds: PFOA and PFOS.

Cancer-causing PHGs

PFOA: 0.007 parts per trillion (ppt)
PFOS: 1 ppt

Noncancer health effects PHGs

PFOA: 3 ppt
PFOS: 2 ppt

A PHG is the level of contaminant where adverse health effects are not expected to occur. Cancer causing PHGs are based at a risk level of one additional cancer case per one million people. Noncancer causing PHGs are based on adverse health effect thresholds. PHGs set by OEHHA are used by the State Water Resources Control Board in establishing drinking water standards.

Local Updates

UC Irvine Study Results Are In

Results from the University of California, Irvine's (UCI) PFAS study have been sent to participants. In total, 585 adults and 71 children participated. They were among 5,495 adults and 683 children who participated nationwide.

Study data showed PFAS levels of UCI participants were low compared to other sites and were similar to results from the 2020 US and SoCal CARE-3 student.

Moving forward, UCI will compare participant demographics, measured and modelled PFAS based on residential history, and will evaluate the amount of water people drink. They are working with other sites to provide comparison data and hope to have a community meeting later this year to present results.

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.

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

SWRCB PFAS Updates

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.