EPA to invest in PFAS projects across Southern California

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will invest $15.7 million for seven projects across Southern California to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The funding will advance tangible solutions to water contamination challenges and is in addition to EPA's recently announced $77.257 million investment in California communities’ efforts to address PFAS.

The new funding includes:

• $2,500,0000 to La Habra Heights County Water District to construct a PFAS remediation and treatment system at five groundwater wells.
• $1,750,000 to the Orange County Water District to install an innovative ion exchange treatment system at Santa Ana’s Wells 27 and 28, to ensure treated groundwater is safely served to residents.
• $959,752 to the City of Riverside to modify the Palmyrita Water Treatment Plant for PFAS removal and to improve drinking water infrastructure.
• $2,100,000 to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency to construct a new treatment facility to remove PFAS contaminants from groundwater at the existing S7 well.
• $959,752 to the Santa Margarita Water District to fund a preliminary design report for the new Ranch Water Filtration Plant and support the district’s effort to provide potable reused water.
• $959,752 to the City of South Gate to treat four wells affected by PFAS contamination that supplies more than 50% of the City’s total water demand.
• $6,452,972 to the Western Municipal Water District to fund rehabbing, repairing, and replacing aging sewer lines to prevent the infiltration of PFAS-contaminated groundwater into March Air Reserve Base’s sewer system.

The EPA’s new PFAS OUTreach—or PFAS OUT—initiative will proactively work with communities and water systems to address PFAS risks. This program is in addition to the recent announcement of new Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant funding, $4 billion nationwide in Drinking Water State Revolving Funds dedicated to addressing PFAS and emerging contaminants, and more than $6.5 billion in low-interest financing available through EPA's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loan program.