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Highlights from July 2025

This June, the Orange County Water District (OCWD; District) marked 92 years of service. OCWD remains focused on protecting water quality, expanding groundwater supply and maintaining strong financial stewardship. The District manages and protects the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which supplies up to 85% of the region's drinking water.

Since 2019, OCWD has partnered with 19 cities and retail water agencies to remove PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals increasingly found in water sources, from the groundwater basin. The District operates the first public agency laboratory in California certified to detect key PFAS compounds and launched the nation’s largest PFAS Treatment Pilot Project. Cleanup is projected to cost $1.8 billion over 30 years. Securing outside funding reduces reliance on debt and limits future rate impacts.

To date, OCWD has secured over $251 million to address PFAS, including a recent $30 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. For the current fiscal year, District staff are working on six applied research projects related to PFAS, all of which have received external funding. These efforts help reduce costs for local agencies and protect ratepayers.

Operational milestones this year set new records. The achieved basin production percentage rose to 84.5%—OCWD’s highest on record—despite below average rainfall. The Groundwater Replenishment System produced 113,152 acre-feet, setting a global record for annual production by any indirect potable reuse project.

OCWD also earned its 17th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and maintains top-tier credit ratings from Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s.

These accomplishments reflect the vision of the Board of Directors and the dedication of OCWD’s professional staff. Together, we remain committed to securing a reliable, high-quality water supply for the people of Orange County.

OCWD, a founding member of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), recently joined the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for a series of site visits to review projects funded through the Proposition 84 Integrated Regional Water Management grant program.

These projects are part of the Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program (SARCCUP), a regional effort to enhance groundwater management, expand water reuse and improve water reliability across the Santa Ana River (SAR) watershed.

During the site visits, Natural Resources Director Sheryl Parsons and Principal Environmental Specialist David McMichael represented OCWD alongside Ashley Gilreath of DWR and Greg Woodside of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District.



Baseflows from the SAR, which runs through the heart of the watershed, are the second-largest source of recharge for the Orange County Groundwater Basin—surpassed only by the Groundwater Replenishment System. To ensure a healthy and reliable basin, OCWD maintains a diverse water supply portfolio and is exploring the potential expansion of its Riverbed Filtration System to boost SAR flows to its recharge basins.

Through active participation in collaborative programs like SARCCUP, OCWD continues to advance sustainable water solutions that protect and strengthen the region's water supply.

OCWD Executive Director of Operations Mehul Patel was recently featured on the H20 & Beyond podcast. Mehul and host Alex Han delved into the history of the Groundwater Replenishment System, public perception of treated wastewater, the future of water reuse, and OCWD's long-term strategy for maintaining a healthy groundwater basin. The conversation highlighted OCWD's investments in water infrastructure and treatment to ensure a sustainable water supply resilient to extreme weather conditions. Mehul emphasized the District's role as a national and global pioneer in large-scale water reuse. Watch the engaging episode here.

Mehul also served as a panelist at the Arizona Water Reuse 2025 Symposium, hosted by the Arizona section of WateReuse Association and Arizona Water. The panel focused on updates to the EPA’s WateReuse Action Plan and its ongoing implementation. Through its active speakers bureau, OCWD leadership remains at the forefront of advancing water reuse and shaping resilient water solutions.

Don’t miss the opportunity to network with colleagues, water industry experts, community leaders and elected officials at the 17th annual OC Water Summit—hosted by OCWD and Municipal Water District of Orange County—as they explore strategies to enhance regional water reliability. This popular event, taking place September 5 at the Westin South Coast Plaza, will feature four lively sessions:

💧Responding to PFAS: Balancing Protection, Policy and Practicality—we're tackling the top headline in water.

💧Rethinking the Bay-Delta: Restoration with Benefits—learn about newly unveiled findings.

💧Is the State Prioritizing Abundant Water Supply?—hear from voices shaping the future of water policy.



💧Getting Water on the Ballot—featuring longtime, award-winning political strategist Ace Smith.

Congratulations to Lo Tan, Principal Engineer, for being named the 2025 Employee of the Second Quarter! 

In January, OCWD was awarded a $30 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) as part of the WaterSMART: Title XVI WIIN Act. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant supports OCWD's PFAS treatment program to eliminate PFAS from local groundwater.

The USBR grant is a highly competitive and complex grant to apply for, requiring a lengthy proposal that addresses a wide range of industry topics. OCWD received the largest award among 18 funded projects, a testament to the strength of its proposal and the District's leadership in groundwater management and PFAS response. The $30 million will help fund the construction of treatment facilities for over 100 wells impacted by state and federal regulations. To date, 45 wells have been restored and are now operational.

Plus, save the date for these upcoming District events

• October 23 – Groundwater Adventure Tour
• October 24 – GWRS in-person public tour
• October 28 – Webinar on OCWD basin management and monitoring wells 

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.