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Highlights from December 2025

As we begin the new year, I am proud to reflect on the work OCWD does to manage and protect the Orange County Groundwater Basin. This past year was especially impactful in advancing our mission to provide a high-quality, reliable water supply to the communities we serve.

PFAS treatment and well restoration continued moving forward, supported by major state and federal funding, while the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) and Santa Ana River stormwater capture remained a core part of the region’s water supply portfolio. Recent storms, which have now brought in more than 12 inches of rain since July 2025, underscored the importance of OCWD’s basin operations, and I want to extend special thanks to our recharge operators and field teams for their extraordinary efforts - especially over the holidays - to safely capture and store stormwater, and recharge it when conditions allow.

Across the District, teams supported basin performance through proactive maintenance, rigorous laboratory and compliance monitoring, applied research and technical knowledge-sharing, and the day-to-day execution that keeps critical facilities operating reliably. OCWD’s work was reinforced through multiple external awards, strong financial recognition, forward-thinking planning, broad media visibility, and continued community and industry engagement.

I appreciate the hard work of our talented staff, who carry out this mission every day to support a reliable water supply for generations to come.

Discover the critical work happening behind the scenes at the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD) to deliver clean, safe, and reliable water to its community. From proactive infrastructure investments to fuel-proof maintenance programs, ensuring long-term water reliability is a top priority for both YLWD and OCWD.

OCWD appreciates the partnership with its retail agencies, such as YLWD, to ensure the local groundwater basin remains a reliable source today and in the future.

Cathy Green

Stephen R. Sheldon

Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E.

OCWD Board President Denis Bilodeau and General Manager John Kennedy were invited to participate in the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where they shared OCWD’s experience advancing local water supply solutions and how these kinds of initiatives can be replicated on a global scale. Their presentations highlighted key topics such as the world-class GWRS and the District’s comprehensive PFAS treatment program, offering practical insights drawn from OCWD’s history of innovative practices.

Engagements like these reflect OCWD’s commitment to sharing best practices, exchanging knowledge with peers, and contributing to broader discussions shaping the future of water management. By participating in international forums focused on innovation and resiliency, OCWD continues to support progress beyond Orange County while reinforcing its role as a trusted leader in water resource management.

Two recent features highlighted OCWD's ongoing leadership in innovation and knowledge-sharing.

Research Director Megan Plumlee was a co-author of the award-winning paper "The Future of Municipal Wastewater Reuse Concentrate Management: Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities." This research focused on the concentrate generated from reverse osmosis processes such as the one at GWRS.

Executive Director of Operations Mehul Patel was featured on The Infrastructure Show podcast episode, “From Sewer to Kitchen Tap: Replenishing Groundwater in Orange County, California,” discussing OCWD’s approach to groundwater replenishment and the GWRS’s role in producing purified water for indirect potable reuse.

OCWD recently hosted its webinar, "Advancing PFAS Management: Progress, Lessons, and Tools for Retail Agencies," providing participants with an overview of the District’s ongoing efforts to address PFAS impacts across Orange County.

The discussion highlighted progress in OCWD’s PFAS program, including coordinated work with retail water agencies and countywide well restoration efforts.

Speakers from OCWD's engineering and research & development departments also shared operational lessons learned and previewed OCWD’s new in-house PFAS dashboard. The dashboard was introduced as a centralized tool designed to support planning and decision-making by improving staff access to PFAS data and visualizations.

Missed it? The recording is now available to view.

Following a comprehensive evaluation of its Fountain Valley campus recently, OCWD has earned the Golden Gate Recognition from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services, a distinction awarded to employers with effective health and safety programs. OCWD’s Fountain Valley campus serves as the District’s administrative and operational hub. It houses the main administration building, a state-certified water quality laboratory, and the GWRS. Approximately 200 full-time employees work at the site, supporting both administrative functions and water treatment operations.

This recognition underscores OCWD’s strong safety culture and its investment in training, safety infrastructure and operational integrity. These efforts are essential to supporting the District’s mission of providing a reliable, high-quality water supply to 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County.

Industrial chemicals have impacted areas in the northern and southern parts of the Orange County Groundwater Basin; areas referred to as the North Basin (portions of Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, and Buena Park) and South Basin (portions of Santa Ana, Tustin, and Irvine). OCWD is working with state and federal regulatory agencies to clean up the pollution.

The North Basin plume of contaminated groundwater is a National Priorities List (Superfund) site overseen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has proposed a plan to contain and treat contaminated groundwater from the Orange County North Basin Superfund site and wants to hear from the community.

Attend a public meeting at any of the locations below or visit EPA’s website for more information, the recorded presentation, and instructions on how to submit written comments. The public comment period is open from January 5 to February 19, 2026.

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• Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 6:00–7:00 PM
  Buena Park Community Center, 6688 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90621

• Thursday, Jan. 22 | 5:30–7:30 PM
  Fullerton Community Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832

• Thursday, Jan. 29 | 5:00–7:00 PM
  Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801

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.