Item 21 - PFAS Treatment System at Well 38

Home Browse Search

exceeding RLs or remove from service drinking water sources with PFAS exceeding RLs.' The revised RLs are perceived as a de facto regulation by some Producers. E. In November 2019, the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment began the process of developing drinking water Public Health Goals ("PHGs") for PFOA and PFOS, the first step in the regulatory process leading to DDW setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels ("MCLs"). As of the Effective Date, DDW projected establishing MCLs for PFOA and PFOS by the Fall of 2023, with PHGs projected to be established by the Summer of 2021. F. PFAS compounds create a unique groundwater contamination issue that impacts many Producers. Without any action, PFAS impacted groundwater may migrate affecting other Water Producing Facilities and larger portions of the Basin. G. The Parties desire that the Basin continue to provide a groundwater supply of suitable quality to allow for the continuation of all existing and potential beneficial uses, and that is in compliance with all state and federal standards and relevant advisory levels. Quick and effective actions by OCWD, in concert with Producers, are needed to remove, treat and control PFAS down to established regulatory limits while also removing them to prevent their contamination of other portions of the Basin. H. The Parties recognize the necessity and commit to a high level of coordination to expeditiously design, construct and operate PFAS treatment systems ("Treatment Systems") to remove PFAS from the Basin where PFAS is detected in Water Producing Facilities. I. Until Treatment Systems are constructed, the impacted Producers will be purchasing greater amounts of more expensive imported water, and water in the Basin containing PFAS will not be treated so as to prevent its spread to other portions of the Basin. J. As a result of DDW issuing revised RLs for PFOA and PFOS, and anticipated issuance of RLs and state or federal MCLs for other PFAS, Producers have lost, or are anticipated to lose upon finalization of the RLs and/or MCLs for one or more PFAS, pumping capacity in one or more Water Producing Facilities due to the presence of PFAS. Given the magnitude of the PFAS problem within the Basin, and OCWD's desire to improve and protect the quality of the groundwater supplies within the District so that groundwater from the Basin may be beneficially used, OCWD has developed, and is implementing through this Agreement and other actions, a new program that will allow OCWD to purify and treat groundwater containing PFAS by substantially funding, contracting and cooperating with Producers to develop, construct, operate, and maintain Treatment Systems such that water quality within the OCWD will be purified and improved ("Program"), and such that Producers can continue to beneficially use groundwater from the Basin after treatment for drinking water purposes. Producers desire to participate in the Program. z DDW's February 2020 guidance directs community water systems to test for PFAS using EPA Method 537.1 and notes that DDW defines PFAS "as those analytes included in EPA Method 537.1." 2629/0224".0087 14979764.1 a04/17/20 -2-