Highlights from February 2025

I’m proud to share that the Orange County Water District (OCWD) successfully captured all rainfall from the recent February storms, reinforcing our commitment to efficient water management. Last month, more than three inches of rain were collected, bringing the total for the current water year (July 2024–July 2025) to 4.47 inches. While this remains less than half of our expected rainfall, OCWD has successfully maximized stormwater capture to bolster our local water supply.

Effective stormwater capture is critical to our region’s water security. The recent storms put our systems to the test, and they performed as designed, ensuring that every drop was put to beneficial use. A special thank you to our dedicated staff, particularly our recharge operations team, who worked around the clock during these storms to optimize rainfall capture. Their 24/7 efforts resulted in securing rainwater valued at more than $16 million in mid-February alone.

Year-round, our team plays a vital role in maintaining and improving our recharge facilities – clearing sediment, managing water levels, maintaining instrumentation, and repairing conveyance structures. Their expertise and dedication not only enhance the reliability of our groundwater basin but also help keep water costs affordable for the communities we serve.

OCWD announced the release of its Resilience Plan: Adaptive Strategies for Securing Abundant and Reliable Water Supplies, a forward-thinking blueprint designed to strengthen the region’s long-term water security.

Looking ahead 25 years, the Resilience Plan serves as a strategic guide for future investments, planning decisions, and policy initiatives that will strengthen Orange County’s water reliability and safeguard OCWD’s assets.

The plan identifies 16 priority projects over the next five years, among them: increasing stormwater capture at Prado Dam using Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations, sediment management at Prado Basin, enhancing seawater intrusion barriers to protect groundwater quality, and constructing treatment systems to remove PFAS from groundwater.

Since 1933, OCWD has pioneered water resource management, tripling the sustainable amount of groundwater that can be pumped from the Orange County Groundwater Basin. By developing new recharge sources, optimizing recharge processes, and enhancing the efficiency of District facilities, OCWD has ensured a reliable and sustainable water supply for 2.5 million people in its service area.

Click here to view an interactive Resilience Plan storyboard.

Join us at the upcoming Children's Water Education Festival on April 23 & 24 at Oak Canyon Park. Around 6,500 OC elementary students will explore water and STEM through interactive lessons taught by skilled and passionate experts. This event thrives thanks to generous supporters - get involved today and help us create another successful and memorable event!

• Sponsor: Choose from multiple sponsorship levels, with tax-deductible donations available online or by mail.

• Present: Engage students in hands-on activities about water and the environment.

• Volunteer: Various roles are available, shifts are flexible, and volunteers must be 15 or older.

Visit www.childrenwaterfestival.com to learn more or sign up today!

Our next webinar, "Managing Sediment for a Reliable Water Supply" will be held on Tuesday, March 11 from 12pm – 1pm.

Explore how sediment management impacts our water supply and its significance to both inland and coastal communities. Experts from OCWD and the County of Orange will highlight innovative tools like SediMatch, regional collaboration efforts, and solutions to challenges at Prado Dam - a key site for stormwater capture that supports OCWD and its communities. Discover how these initiatives are advancing sustainable solutions and why broader stakeholder involvement and federal support are needed to ensure long-term success and water supply resiliency.

Click here to register for the webinar.

The District has published its latest PFAS Quarterly Update, highlighting its continued efforts in addressing PFAS, which has been detected in local groundwater in very tiny amounts (parts per trillion). Despite playing no role in releasing PFAS into the environment, OCWD is working with its cities and retail water districts to remove it from local water supplies in order to comply with new state and federal regulations.

Key updates include:

• The latest on state and federal regulations.
• More than 53 billion gallons of water treated.
• With more than 100 wells impacted, 45 wells are restored and back online.
• OCWD secured a $30 million federal grant for PFAS treatment projects.
• Tustin PFAS Treatment Plant set to open this spring, backed by $15 million in grants.

OCWD also continues to advocate for polluter accountability and support legislative efforts to protect ratepayers from the high costs of PFAS treatment.

To learn more and stay informed, visit OCWD's PFAS Education Center.

We are proud to be featured in a recent Hazen and Sawyer article highlighting innovative research on maximizing water recovery in reverse osmosis (RO) systems. This forward-thinking study, conducted in partnership with Hazen and funded through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Pitch to Pilot program, explores how real-time data analysis and machine learning can optimize membrane performance, increase water production, and conserve energy.

Testing is currently underway at the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest advanced water purification system for potable reuse. By leveraging cutting-edge automation, this research could help utilities nationwide improve water treatment efficiency while reducing costs.

Read more about the study here.

Speaking of the GWRS, have you joined us for a tour?

Learn how OCWD takes treated wastewater and produces 130 million gallons of high-quality water every day, enough to meet the needs of one million people. Our tours include an informative walk through of the facility, showcasing state-of-the-art technology in action. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to taste the final product - refreshing, ultra-pure water. Public tours are offered throughout the year, and we can also customize a tour for your needs.

Recently, we welcomed Congressman Dave Min, representatives from the city of Orange and its sister city Ocampo, Mexico, students from Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, Pacific Academy and Crescent High School and conference attendees from the AWWA Membrane Technology Conference. As you can see from the pictures below, our tours continue, rain or shine! Safely, of course.

Learn more about our tour programs and request a booking today.

Learn about OCWD's role in providing a safe, reliable, local water supply by attending an event, webinar or tour. Individuals and groups are invited to tour the award-winning GWRS and other District facilities.

Through our active speakers bureau program, you may request for our staff to come speak to organizations and schools, as well as conferences and events.