President's Message – Ocean Desal Update
Local residents have a large stake in the proposed Poseidon Desalination Project (Project), which would be located adjacent
to the AES Huntington Beach Power Station on Pacific Coast Highway. I would like to provide an update on the Project and
the Orange County Water District's consideration of purchasing water from the Project.
Coastal Commission Review
The Coastal Commission's Independent Scientific Technical Advisory Panel has released a feasibility study of intake
technologies that would minimize ocean environmental impacts. Poseidon Water is currently proposing to use and modify the
existing AES intake pipeline. The panel's conclusion was that building an alternate subsurface intake system would have
significant
environmental impacts due to construction and is not economically viable within a reasonable period of time.
Read More...
EPA to Manage North Basin Contamination Cleanup
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assumed lead responsibility for the cleanup of contamination impacting
the northern region of the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The Orange County Water District (OCWD) supports this effort
and will provide assistance to the EPA as needed.
The EPA's action is expected to significantly enhance efforts to remove toxic chemicals from this important source of
water
to Orange County. Ensuring we can utilize all of the water from a fully functional groundwater basin not only protects public
health, but also ensures the long-term economic viability of all of Orange County.
Read More...
GWRS Receives CASA Award
Board members and general managers from OCWD and OCSD accept the CASA Achievement Award at the Sept. 16 OCWD Board Meeting
The award-winning Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), a joint project of the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD)
and the Orange County Water District (OCWD), recently received the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA)
Achievement Award. The two agencies have partnered on water recycling projects for more than 40 years increasing water reliability
in the region. Agency representatives along with consulting engineer firm Black & Veatch were on-hand to receive the
award, which was presented at CASA's 60th annual conference held on Thursday, August 20 in San Diego.
Read More...
Study Spurs Solution to Arsenic Release
A recent Stanford University study of the Orange County Groundwater Basin has determined that the highly-purified water
of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), which is percolated into shallow aquifers, can release natural arsenic from
sediments.
"This poses a challenge to maintaining our groundwater quality and requires special treatment," says
Jason Dadakis, OCWD director of health and regulatory affairs. He is also a study co-author.
OCWD GM Named to WaterWorld's Top 25
WaterWorld magazine has recently celebrated the water industry's 25 "high fliers", including OCWD General
Manager Mike Markus who ranked #4 on the list. Markus joined OCWD in 1988, overseeing construction of
many water facilities. In 2002, he was tasked with managing the construction of the $481 million Groundwater Replenishment
System (GWRS) and in 2008, he was named OCWD's general manager. Under his leadership, he has helped OCWD pave the way
for public acceptance of water recycling for indirect potable use, replicated in countries such as Australia and Singapore.
The GWRS has won 40 awards, including the Stockholm 2008 Industry Award and Lee Kuan Yew Prize 2014.
WaterWorld's honorees are chosen from among global water/wastewater industry innovators and thought leaders. Recipients
have and do include Nobel Laureates, water reuse pioneers and engineers who have grown billion dollar businesses in less
than a decade, among others.
For a close look at the top 25, please visit
WaterWorld
magazine online.
Director Bilodeau Testifies in D.C.
OCWD 1st Vice President Denis Bilodeau had the privilege of recently testifying before the House of Foreign Affairs subcommittee
regarding global water issues.
He joined John Oldfield, CEO, WASH Advocates and Dale Whittington, professor, University of North Carolina to present before
the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations and Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats
Subcommittees on Sept. 9. The hearing focused on discussing water from the point of view of human security as access to
clean water and natural resources may spark conflict in the future.
Read More...
Managing State Groundwater
Amid dwindling water resources and threats of lands collapsing due to over pumping, the California Legislature passed the
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
in 2014. It requires local groundwater agencies to form groundwater sustainability agencies and to publish plans that include
measureable objectives to achieve sustainable groundwater management. The challenge faced by the Department of Water Resources
in developing regulations on measurable objectives is to be definitive without being restrictive and to allow for local
flexibility.
A new Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) report provides important input on establishing measurable objectives. Its
report
suggests
methods to effectively manage the state's groundwater. It recommends that local agencies use common metrics
and reporting guidelines so the state can ensure that groundwater withdrawals do not exceed supply.
Read More...
Out in the Community
As part of its standard to forge and maintain long-term, positive and proactive relationships with members of the community
and be transparent about its operations and programs, OCWD board members and staff participate regularly at community
events and speak before civic groups. OCWD participated in the following during August:
- Principal Engineer Sandy Scott-Roberts was part of a Chapman University NSF-REU Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows—Earth
and Environmental Sciences (SURFEES) roundtable discussing OCWD and career opportunities.
- General Manager Mike Markus presented information about the GWRS at the Loyola Marymount University Water Forum.
- Public Affairs Specialist Crystal Nettles brought GWRS water to participate in the Oasis Water Challenge, a taste-test
which was part of an event sponsored by Global Inheritance.
Crystal Nettles with GWRS Water at the Oasis Water Challenge
OCWD in the News
OCWD continues to be recognized for its leadership in the water industry. Below are a few of the recent media highlights:
OCWD Employees
OCWD's employees are its most valuable resources. It is committed to recruiting the best and enriching their lives to
grow
within the water industry and the District family.
New Hires
Jeanie Amezcua
Hydrogeology Intern
Hydrogeology Department
Philip Jacobs
Plant Operator I
Water Production Department
August Tours
OCWD and OCSD were proud to host a delegation from the Singapore Public Utilities Board (PUB). The two American agencies
and Singapore have been collaborating for nearly 15 years, resulting in better efficiencies and public acceptance of water
reuse projects around the world. Special guests of the tour included Chief Executive Peter Ng; Chief Technology Officer
Harry
Seah; Senior Planning Officer, Policy & Planning Harold Khoo; Principal Engineer, Water Reclamation Winson Lay; Senior
Engineer, Technology Dept. Roderick Sih; and Assistant Director, Industry Development Shengwei Yeo.
Thank you to the more than one hundred additional guests that toured OCWD's facilities in August:
OCWD welcomes students from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, part of an exchange student program with UCI.
Students from the CSU, Fullerton Nursing Program; University of California, Irvine Exchange Program; CSU, Fullerton Exchange
Program;
and UC Riverside; staff from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and State Water Resources Control Board; and
members
of a Korean Delegation, YTN TV Korea and those of the general public.
Public tours of the Groundwater Replenishment System are offered at
10 a.m. on the first Friday of every month; reservations are required. Tours may be scheduled for other days of the week, depending on staff availability. To schedule a tour or to request more information, please contact Becky Mudd at (714) 378-3362 or
bmudd@ocwd.com. To schedule a speaker, please contact Rose Wilke at (714) 378-3206 or
rwilke@ocwd.com. You may also visit
www.ocwd.com to schedule these activities online.
CONTACT US
www.ocwd.com
18700 Ward Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 378-3200
info@ocwd.com
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