CORREA ANNOUNCES $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PFAS TREATMENT ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY

CORREA ANNOUNCES $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PFAS TREATMENT ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY

Federal Dollars Return to Orange County From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Correa Voted to Pass in 2021

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Today, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced that the Orange County Water District (OCWD) was awarded a $30 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) as part of the WaterSMART: Title XVI WIIN Act. This funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Correa voted to pass in 2021, is designated for OCWD's PFAS treatment program to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from local groundwater.

"Today, hard-working taxpayers of Orange County are seeing their tax dollars return home to keep our water clean and accessible-and I'm honored that our office helped bring this investment home," Correa said. "Orange County shines bright as a global beacon of environmental stewardship and engineering, constantly creating solutions to the environmental issues being faced by our residents. This infusion of federal funding will play a crucial role in eliminating PFAS and other forever chemicals from our water supply, and will ensure everyone that calls our community home has access to safe, clean water."

The $30 million grant, the largest awarded among the 18 projects by the USBR, follows a competitive evaluation that highlighted OCWD as a top applicant. These funds will advance the District's efforts to construct treatment facilities for over 100 wells impacted by state and federal regulations. Currently, 45 wells have been restored and are operational.

"As a leader in water quality and groundwater management, OCWD is committed to ensuring safe and reliable water for the 2.5 million residents in our service area," OCWD President Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E. said. "This grant aids our ongoing efforts to expand PFAS treatment facilities throughout Orange County."

With an estimated $1.8 billion in PFAS mitigation costs over the next 30 years, OCWD has developed a comprehensive strategy that includes building treatment infrastructure, pursuing legal action against polluters, and advocating for legislation to prevent cleanup costs from affecting ratepayers.

You can learn more about OCWD's PFAS initiatives HERE. You can find more information on USBR's water resiliency funding HERE.