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The Orange County Water District (OCWD) has been awarded a $30 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) as part of the WaterSMART: Title XVI WIIN Act. This funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is designated for OCWD’s PFAS treatment program to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from local groundwater.
OCWD President Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E., stated, “As a leader in water quality and groundwater management, OCWD is committed to ensuring safe and reliable water for the 2.5 million residents in our service area. This grant aids our ongoing efforts to expand PFAS treatment facilities throughout Orange County.”
The $30 million grant will advance OCWD’s efforts to construct treatment facilities for more than 100 wells impacted by state and federal regulations. Currently, 45 wells have been restored and are operational.
“With these historic investments, we continue to work with our stakeholders to develop drought resiliency in western states through water reuse and desalination,” USBR Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez said in a statement. “This allows for communities and water users to develop previously unusable water supplies to create a new local water supply that is less vulnerable to impacts of climate change and drought.”
With an estimated $1.8 billion in PFAS mitigation costs over the next 30 years, OCWD has developed a comprehensive strategy that includes building treatment infrastructure, pursuing legal action against polluters, and advocating for legislation to prevent cleanup costs from affecting ratepayers.
