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Highlights from May 2026

June marks another anniversary for the Orange County Water District (OCWD), and it is an opportunity to reflect on how far the District has come since it was formed in 1933. For more than 90 years, OCWD has focused on one mission: protect and manage the Orange County Groundwater Basin. Serving on the Board since 2000, I’ve had the opportunity to witness firsthand how we have strengthened this vital resource that today provides a reliable local water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County.

Over the decades, through groundwater recharge operations, stormwater capture, basin management, and investments in local projects, OCWD has increased our local water supply and decreased reliance on imported water from northern California and the Colorado River. That work has produced tremendous benefits for the region. Projects like the award-winning Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest advanced water purification facility of its kind, have strengthened Orange County’s water reliability by turning purified recycled water into a valuable resource for groundwater replenishment. By working with the Army Corps of Engineers, we’re capturing more Santa Ana River stormwater at Prado Dam and putting that water back into the groundwater basin for future use. And throughout all of this work, protecting water quality remains one of OCWD’s highest priorities.

But our work is never done. We’re actively exploring new ways to improve operations and leverage the latest tools and technologies to enhance our groundwater supply for future generations. That includes efforts to maximize storage capacity behind Prado Dam, evaluate opportunities to recharge more water, pilot new PFAS treatment and destruction technologies, and assess ways to safely increase annual pumping and storage in the groundwater basin over time.

Innovation has always been part of OCWD’s history, but more importantly, it continues to shape where the District is headed next. Happy birthday, OCWD!

This past month, the District received multiple honors for its leadership in water infrastructure, public outreach, and groundwater management through awards spanning the local, statewide, and global levels.

The American Society of Civil Engineers Orange County Chapter recognized OCWD and its partners with two engineering awards for PFAS treatment projects that help restore impacted groundwater wells. The City of Orange Wells 20, 21, and 22 PFAS Treatment Project received the Outstanding Water Project Award, while the Tustin Main Street PFAS Water Treatment Plant received the Outstanding Water/Wastewater/Recycle Water Treatment Project Award.

The California Association of Public Information Officials presented OCWD with an Award of Distinction for the Children’s Water Education Festival. The recognition reflects the Festival’s long-standing impact in providing hands-on water education to thousands of Orange County students each year while supporting STEM-based learning opportunities focused on water and the environment.

Global Water Intelligence honored OCWD with a Distinction Award in the Public Water Agency of the Year category, placing the District among leading water agencies from around the world. The recognition acknowledges OCWD’s continued work in water reliability, groundwater management, water reuse, and innovation.

Sharing technical expertise and lessons learned with the broader water industry remains an important part of OCWD's work, with staff regularly participating in conferences, student outreach efforts, and industry publications on the latest innovations in water management.

Highlighting Our PFAS Work

Dr. Megan Plumlee delivered the keynote presentation at the Borchardt Conference on Advances in Water & Wastewater, a regional conference attended by approximately 200 professionals from utilities, engineering firms, and academia. The presentation focused on OCWD’s ongoing research and operational experience related to PFAS treatment and advanced water purification at the GWRS.

Additionally, Executive Director of Engineering and Water Resources Chris Olsen authored the article, "Leading Orange County’s PFAS Response" for American Infrastructure magazine, highlighting OCWD’s regional approach to PFAS treatment and groundwater protection efforts.

Advancing Water Reuse Leadership

Executive Director of Operations Mehul Patel participated in the workshop, "A Roadmap for the Reuse Revolution," during the Global Water Summit. The workshop focused on the future of potable reuse, industry collaboration, and strategies to help advance water reuse projects worldwide.

Inspiring Future Water Professionals

OCWD staff also participated in workforce development and student outreach efforts. Engineers Ben Smith and Alex Waite joined a career panel and Q&A session with Orange Coast College engineering students following a screening of the film, "Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong." The discussion focused on careers in the water industry, real-world experiences in the field, and the role water professionals play in managing and protecting critical water resources.

OCWD research staff recently observed testing of PERSES, a PFAS destruction system operated by General Atomics in San Diego. The system uses industrial Supercritical Water Oxidation (iSCWO) technology to destroy PFAS and other organic contaminants in wastes such as spent treatment media. 

The test used PFAS-containing ion exchange resin from an OCWD PFAS treatment facility. Currently, disposal options for PFAS-impacted treatment media are limited, with landfilling and incineration being the most common approaches. Technologies such as iSCWO could provide an additional disposal solution in the future.

Samples were collected before and after treatment, with results anticipated to demonstrate effective PFAS destruction. The Orange County Sanitation District is also piloting similar AirSCWO technology for biosolids treatment with 374Water. In addition, the OCWD Board recently approved testing with 374Water as part of the District’s ongoing evaluation of PFAS destruction technologies.

This effort reflects OCWD’s continued commitment to evaluating emerging technologies that can improve operations and support long-term water quality protection.

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.