Highlights from February 2024

With the storms that hit southern California in February, we are pleased to report that we have captured and recharged approximately 20 billion gallons of water into the Orange County Groundwater Basin. 

Additionally, through a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we have 6.5 billion gallons of water stored behind Prado Dam in Riverside County. This water will eventually be released at rates the District can capture and recharge into the basin. With all of this water, we expect the groundwater basin to be 100% full after this winter.

To further enhance its stormwater capture capabilities, the District is testing Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam. FIRO aims to increase water storage levels behind the dam by leveraging improved weather forecasting to allow for more precise dam operations. Implementing FIRO at Prado Dam would result in a significant boost in water supply, valued at millions of dollars, and a positive impact on flood risk management.

As other areas in the state are challenged by groundwater depletion, OCWD is proud to share that it has not only sustained but enhanced the basin's resilience today, tomorrow and for future generations through innovative strategies, sound policy and management, and investments in water infrastructure.

On March 27-28, the largest event of its kind in the U.S. will take place at UCI. The Children's Water Education Festival, now in its 27th year, will educate nearly 6,000 third, fourth, and fifth grade students about local water issues and protecting the environment.

Presenters Can Still Sign Up

Join more than 50 organizations as we educate students through hands-on presentations and activities. Classes are carefully scheduled into 20-minute sessions throughout the day. Want to present but unsure of your activity? Phone a friend (OCWD)! Let us help you brainstorm and develop a fun and engaging activity that the students will be sure to enjoy.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

The Festival is provided at no cost to Orange County schools. Hosting an event of this magnitude is made possible by many generous sponsors. Multiple sponsorship levels are available to meet your organization's needs. Donations are tax-deductible and may be made online or by mail. We would love your support!

Volunteers Needed

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to support this exciting event on March 27-28, including set-up on March 26, which is also a very fun and rewarding day. All shifts will be scheduled based upon a volunteer's availability and the needs of the Festival.

Visit www.childrenwaterfestival.com to sign up today. Want to get a sense of what the Festival has to offer? Check out this video from last year's rainy, but highly successful event.

In honor of World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on February 2, we would like to highlight the great work of our Natural Resources department.

Protecting and Increasing Local Water Supplies

OCWD manages thousands of acres of riparian habitat along the Santa Ana River, Santiago Creek and behind Prado Dam, including the District’s 400 acres of constructed wetlands. Located in Riverside County, the Prado wetlands play a pivotal role in protecting and increasing Orange County’s water supply. The wetlands enhance water quality by removing nitrate and other pollutants in the Santa Ana River water that flows to Orange County. Being near the Prado Dam allows us to work in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to capture stormwater at the dam for recharge into the Orange County Groundwater Basin – providing a local water supply and saving millions of dollars in alternative water supply costs each year.

Maintaining Environmental Stewardship

The District’s habitat restoration and wildlife management programs have successfully increased the endangered least Bell’s Vireo in Prado Basin from 19 territories in 1986 to 714 in 2023 and removed hundreds of acres of invasive Arundo Donax, which is a heavy water user and highly flammable. Its popular nesting bird box program along Santa Ana River reduces flying insect populations near important recharge activities in Anaheim. We applaud our Natural Resources team who implement award-winning programs that benefit both nature and water supplies.

Welcoming Our New Natural Resources Director

We also want to take this moment to welcome the District’s new Natural Resources Director Sheryl Parsons. Sheryl will lead a team of environmental specialists to further enhance the innovative work we continue to do in the region. Welcome, Sheryl! 

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) recognized the great partnership between OCWD and the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) for the completion of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). The National Environmental Achievement Award in Community Leadership recognizes agencies that have made outstanding contributions to environmental protection and the clean water community. 

About the GWRS

GWRS is the world’s largest water recycling facility that takes highly treated wastewater that would have previously been discharged into the Pacific Ocean and purifies it using a three-step advanced treatment process. The final expansion project added 30 million gallons per day (MGD) to the system’s capacity, bringing the total to 130 MGD - enough water for one million people per day.

Notably, this expansion achieved an unprecedented milestone: recycling 100% of OC San’s reclaimable wastewater flows, a feat unmatched by other wastewater recycling initiatives. Water produced at the GWRS meets all state and federal drinking water standards, creating a new and highly reliable source of water for Orange County.

Take a Facility Tour

Many opportunities are available and welcome visitors from the public, schools, colleges, water agencies, community organizations, elected officials and international groups. Please join us for one or more of our tour experiences. We hope to welcome you soon! 

The ACWA D.C. conference wrapped up at the end of February where OCWD President Cathy Green, who is also the ACWA President, met with legislative staff and policy makers to discuss important water issues impacting Orange County.

For OCWD, our priorities are to continue to remove PFAS from impacted areas within the groundwater basin, hold polluters accountable, seek funding to offset cost to our ratepayers, and advocate for an exemption from cleanup liability to protect water and wastewater agencies and their ratepayers. Other priorities are to protect our basin from seawater intrusion and implement Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam to increase stormwater capture.

We are committed to making significant progress on these initiatives that protect and enhance Orange County’s water supplies and are appreciative of the opportunity to meet with industry and federal leaders to discuss these issues. 

OCWD implements a proactive groundwater and surface water monitoring program to protect the quality of the groundwater basin and to ensure the water it provides meets all state and federal drinking water standards. 

Industrial chemicals have impacted areas in the northern and southern parts of the 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). Contamination is primarily in the shallow aquifers and any impacted wells have been turned off. OCWD is proactively seeking ways to clean up the pollution in a united effort with state and federal regulatory agencies.

Learn more about activities occurring in and around the North Basin and South Basin areas in the January 2024 groundwater cleanup update.

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 expert staff to come speak to organizations and schools, as well as local, national and international conferences.