Exhibit 2 — Santa Ana City Council, September 15, 2026

SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL
Valerie Amezcua
Mayor
[email protected]
David Penaloza
Mayor Pro Tem - Ward 6
[email protected]
Thai Viet Phan
Ward 1
[email protected]
Benjamin Vazquez
Ward 2
[email protected]
Jessie Lopez
Ward 3
[email protected]
Phil Bacerra
Ward 4
[email protected]
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
Ward 5
[email protected]
MONTH DAY, 2026Via E-mail and U.S. Mail
The Honorable Sheila F. Hanson
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Dear Judge Hanson,
The City of Santa Ana hereby submits its response to the findings and recommendations in the 2025-2026 Orange County Grand Jury report, “PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water.”
The City of Santa Ana (City) thanks the Orange County Grand Jury for the time and effort invested in evaluating PFAS monitoring, regulatory requirements, treatment progress, and public communication throughout Orange County. The City appreciates the Grand Jury's recommendations and remains committed to providing reliable drinking water that meets all applicable state and federal drinking water standards. The City also proactively communicates with the public through its dedicated Water Quality webpage, annual Water Quality Reports, and project-specific community outreach.

The City is the sole water purveyor for Santa Ana residents and businesses and relies primarily on local groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin. As a member agency of the Orange County Water District (OCWD), the City works closely with OCWD, the California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to monitor PFAS and implement treatment in accordance with applicable drinking water requirements.

The City completed construction of its first PFAS treatment facility at Well 40 in May 2023, restoring this groundwater source to the City's water system. PFAS treatment projects for Wells 31, 38, 27, and 28 are under construction. The City and OCWD are also advancing centralized treatment at the John Garthe Reservoir for Wells 18, 24, 32, 36, and 39, and the City is planning additional treatment at the Walnut Reservoir.

In accordance with California Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, below are the City's responses to Findings F2, F4, F6, and F8 and Recommendations R2, R4, and R5.

MAYOR
Valerie Amezcua

MAYOR PRO TEM
David Penaloza

COUNCILMEMBERS
Phil Bacerra
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
Jessie Lopez
Thai Viet Phan
Benjamin Vazquez

CITY OF SANTA ANA

PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY
20 Civic Center Plaza ● P.O. Box 1988
Santa Ana, California 92702
www.santa-ana.org

CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez

CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho

CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall

MONTH DAY, 2026 Honorable Sheila F. Hanson, Presiding Judge Page 2

FINDINGS
F2 - PFAS is widespread, and contamination has been detected in Orange County groundwater sources.

Community water systems are required to report PFAS monitoring results in their annual Consumer Confidence Reports.

RESPONSE: Agree with this Finding
PFAS has been detected in portions of the Orange County Groundwater Basin, including groundwater sources serving the City. For more than a decade, the City has proactively monitored PFAS through the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule programs, including UCMR 3 and UCMR 5, as well as multiple PFAS monitoring orders issued by the California Division of Drinking Water.

The City reports applicable PFAS monitoring results in its annual Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report, in accordance with state and federal reporting requirements. The City's annual reports also provide customers with updates regarding the status and progress of its PFAS treatment projects, while the City's dedicated Water Quality webpage provides an additional source of current public information.

F4 - OCWD has taken a proactive leadership role in addressing PFAS in the Orange County Groundwater Basin, though PFAS treatment implementation varies across local cities and water districts.

RESPONSE: Agree with this Finding
OCWD has provided regional technical leadership, monitoring support, treatment planning, and financial assistance to local groundwater producers. Implementation schedules vary because each water system has different well conditions, site constraints, treatment capacities, permitting needs, and construction requirements.

Santa Ana has actively advanced a coordinated PFAS treatment program with OCWD. Well 40 is equipped with ion exchange treatment and is in service; treatment projects for Wells 31, 38, 27, and 28 are under construction; and centralized treatment at the John Garthe Reservoir and additional treatment at the Walnut Reservoir are being advanced or planned. These projects are intended to preserve the City's ability to use local groundwater supplies while maintaining compliance with applicable drinking water requirements. The City has paired these infrastructure investments with project-specific community outreach so residents are informed about the purpose, status, anticipated schedule, and community benefits of each PFAS project.

F6 - Orange County drinking water meets or exceeds state and federal standards and is safe for consumption without additional home filtration.

RESPONSE: Agree with this Finding
The City provides drinking water that meets applicable state and federal drinking water standards. Santa Ana routinely monitors its water sources and distribution system and operates its groundwater sources in accordance with California Division of Drinking Water requirements. Additional household filtration is not required for the City's drinking water to meet applicable regulatory standards. The City reinforces this message through its annual Water Quality Reports, dedicated Water Quality webpage, and community outreach regarding its PFAS treatment projects.

F8 - There are limited online PFAS education and outreach programs among Orange County water retailers.

Most retailers rely on OCWD for PFAS education and outreach. PFAS advisories were included in approximately 55% of the Orange County water retailers' annual water quality reports in 2025.

RESPONSE: Disagree Partially with this Finding
The City agrees that PFAS outreach practices vary among Orange County water retailers. However, the City disagrees with the finding to the extent it suggests that Santa Ana has limited online PFAS education or relies primarily on OCWD for PFAS education and outreach. The City maintains a dedicated Water Quality webpage (https://santa-ana.gov/water-quality/) that provides the community with information about PFAS, drinking water quality, monitoring, regulatory compliance, and the City's treatment program. The City also includes PFAS monitoring information and treatment project updates in its annual Water Quality Reports. In addition, the City MONTH DAY, 2026 Honorable Sheila F. Hanson, Presiding Judge Page 3

Together, these efforts reflect the City's proactive, multi-channel approach to PFAS education and outreach and provide Santa Ana customers with City-specific information as treatment projects and regulatory requirements evolve.

RECOMMENDATIONS
R2 - By July 1, 2029, OCWD and its member agencies should monitor PFAS in groundwater and surface water sources and promptly implement PFAS treatment when response levels are exceeded. [F2, F4] RESPONSE: The Recommendation Has Been Implemented
The City monitors its groundwater production wells in accordance with applicable California Division of Drinking Water orders, federal Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule requirements, and the federal PFAS drinking water regulation. The City coordinates with OCWD regarding monitoring within the Orange County Groundwater Basin and Santa Ana River watershed and relies on its imported-water suppliers for monitoring imported surface water sources. When monitoring identifies a condition requiring action, the City restricts use of the affected source as appropriate and implements treatment or other corrective measures in coordination with regulators and OCWD. The City's ongoing treatment program includes the operational Well 40 facility and additional facilities in construction or planning for other City wells. Monitoring, regulatory coordination, and treatment implementation will continue through and beyond July 1, 2029.

R4 - By July 1, 2029, all Orange County water retailers should consistently include a PFAS advisory, treatment facilities status, and compliance information in consumer confidence reports and on agency websites, using clear and understandable language for the public. [F2, F8]
RESPONSE: The Recommendation Has Been Implemented
The City has implemented this recommendation through its annual Water Quality Reports and dedicated Water Quality webpage (https://santa-ana.gov/water-quality/). These resources provide customers with PFAS monitoring and compliance information, drinking water safety information, and updates regarding the status and progress of City PFAS treatment facilities. The City also provides project-specific community outreach so residents receive timely information regarding treatment projects that may affect their neighborhoods. Santa Ana will continue to review and update these materials using clear, understandable language and will coordinate with OCWD and regulatory agencies to keep public information consistent as projects and requirements evolve. The City will continue these updates beyond July 1, 2029.

R5 - By September 30, 2026, OCWD and all Orange County water retailers should enhance coordinated public education efforts to reassure their customers about drinking water safety. [F6, F8] RESPONSE: The Recommendation Has Been Implemented
The City has implemented coordinated PFAS public education through several established channels. Santa Ana maintains a dedicated Water Quality webpage, provides PFAS monitoring and treatment project updates in its annual Water Quality Reports, and conducts community outreach for each of its PFAS treatment projects. These efforts provide customers with Santa Ana-specific information regarding drinking water safety, regulatory compliance, treatment facility status, project schedules, and anticipated community benefits. The City also coordinates with OCWD to align regional safety and technical messages and directs the public to authoritative state and federal resources when additional information is needed. The City will continue enhancing these coordinated efforts through and beyond September 30, 2026, as PFAS projects advance and regulatory requirements evolve.

MONTH DAY, 2026 Honorable Sheila F. Hanson, Presiding Judge Page 4

Sincerely,
Alvaro Nuñez
City Manager
Attachments: City Council staff report dated MONTH DAY, 2026 and related exhibits

Santa Ana City CouncilSeptember 15, 2026

Santa Ana City Council
September 15, 2026