OCWD Management Area
6.2.1 Regulation and Management of Contaminants
A variety of federal, state, county and local agencies have jurisdiction over the regulation and management of hazardous substances and the remediation of contaminated groundwater supplies. OCWD does not have regulatory authority to require responsible parties to clean up pollutants that have contaminated groundwater. In some cases, OCWD has pursued legal action against entities that are responsible for contaminating the groundwater basin to recover OCWD’s remediation costs or to compel those entities to implement remedies. OCWD also coordinates and cooperates with regulatory oversight agencies that investigate sources of contamination. OCWD efforts to assess the potential threat to public health and the environment from contamination in the Santa Ana River Watershed and within the County of Orange include: • Reviewing ongoing groundwater cleanup site investigations and commenting on the findings, conclusions, and technical merits of progress reports • Providing knowledge and expertise to assess contaminated sites and evaluating the merits of proposed remedial activities • Conducting third-party groundwater split samples at contaminated sites to assist regulatory agencies in evaluating progress of groundwater cleanup and/or providing confirmation data of the areal extent of contamination The following is a list of potential contaminants of greatest concern for basin water quality management. More details on these are presented in the 2017 Alternative.
• Per- and polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS)
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)
•
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
•
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
•
1,4-Dioxane
•
• Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
As new chemicals become of scientific interest or are regulated, the OCWD laboratory develops the analytical capability and becomes certified in the approved method to process compliance samples. In 2019, the District’s lab became the first public agency laboratory in the state of California to achieve state certification to analyze PFAS in drinking water. The District has invested over $1 million in monitoring equipment to test for PFAS and other CECs. OCWD is committed to (1) track new compounds of concern; (2) research chemical occurrence and treatment; (3) communicate closely with the DDW on prioritizing investigation and guidance; (4) coordinate with OC San, upper watershed wastewater dischargers and regulatory agencies to identify sources and reduce contaminant releases; and (5) inform the groundwater producers on emerging issues .
BASIN 8-1 ALTERNATIVE 2022 UPDATE
Water Resource Management Programs 6-4
Appendix F - 134
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