This paper discusses the
efforts and required steps of Castaic Lake Water Agency (Agency) to return contaminated wells
to service to meet the demands of growing populations and to provide needed supplies during
dry years.
In 1997, ammonium perchlorate was discovered in four Saugus aquifer wells, operated by
Castaic Lake Water Agency member agencies, near the former Whittaker-Bermite facility. As a
consequence, these wells were shut down. Since that time, one additional well, in the Alluvium
aquifer, has been shut down. Groundwater from the aquifers is an important, long-term water
resource for the Santa Clarita Valley. When returned to service, the wells will provide an
additional 4 mgd of supply.
Returning wells contaminated with perchlorate, as well as nitrate and a variety of volatile organic chemicals (VOC), to
service is essential to water resources not only in California, but in other states as well.
Perchlorate has been detected in approximately 400 public water system wells in California.
Additionally, perchlorate is present in the Colorado River as a result of an ongoing release from
a former manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada, outside of Las Vegas.
This paper looks at the treatment processes considered by the Agency and outlines the efforts of
Castaic Lake Water Agency and its member agencies to return several contaminated wells to
service.
The mechanism through which extremely impaired sources may be used as a drinking water
source is outlined in California Department of Health Services (DHS) Policy Memorandum 97-
005. As part of the plan to bring the wells into service, Castaic Lake Water Agency contracted
with Black & Veatch to: complete several of the work tasks required by DHS Policy
Memorandum 97-005; incorporate the ongoing work by other firms; and, provide the
overall coordination required to achieve acceptance of the DHS Policy Memorandum 97-005
Engineers Report.
Permitting a contaminated supply requires extensive evaluation as well as health risk assessments
to protect public health. The paper reviews the steps for process selection as well as the
studies, assessments and public involvement required to bring these sources back to production. Includes 17 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 490 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 13 |
| Published : | 06/17/2004 |
