Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.gov/pwa
Item # 8
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 15, 2026
TOPIC: Orange County Grand Jury's Investigative Report Titled “PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water” dated June 6, 2026
AGENDA TITLE
Receive and File the Orange County Grand Jury's Investigative Report Titled “PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water,” Approve the Proposed City’s Response, and Authorize the City Manager to Submit the City’s Response to the Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Receive and file the Orange County Grand Jury's report titled “PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water;” and
2. Approve the City's response to Findings F2, F4, F6, and F8 and Recommendations R2, R4, and R5; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to submit the response to the Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court in accordance with California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
In June 2026, the Orange County Grand Jury (OCGJ) issued a report entitled, “PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water” (Exhibit 1).
The report evaluates the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Orange County drinking water, PFAS monitoring and treatment efforts, applicable state and federal regulatory requirements, the progress of treatment facility planning and implementation, and public education. The report includes eight findings and six recommendations intended to strengthen PFAS monitoring, reporting, treatment, and public outreach by Orange County water agencies.
The City of Santa Ana is the sole water purveyor serving Santa Ana residents and businesses and relies primarily on local groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin. For more than a decade, the City has monitored PFAS through the
Orange County Grand Jury's Investigative Report Titled “PFAS and Public Awareness:
A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water” dated June 6, 2026 September 15, 2026
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United States Environmental Protection Agency's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) programs, including UCMR 3 and UCMR 5, and through multiple monitoring orders issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water. The City also works closely with the Orange County Water District (OCWD) to advance PFAS treatment projects to maintain the reliability and quality of the City’s groundwater supply.
The City has taken significant steps to monitor PFAS, protect its water supply, and preserve the availability of local groundwater. The City completed its first PFAS treatment facility at Well 40 in May 2023. Treatment projects for Wells 31, 38, 27, and 28 are under construction, with additional centralized treatment projects being advanced or planned at the John Garthe and Walnut Reservoir sites. The City also provides PFAS information and project updates through its annual Water Quality Reports, dedicated Water Quality webpage, and project-specific community outreach.
In accordance with California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, the City is required to respond to applicable findings and recommendations contained in the OCGJ report.
Of the eight findings and six recommendations, the City is required to respond to four findings (F2, F4, F6, and F8) and three recommendations (R2, R4, and R5). The City’s proposed response addresses each required finding and recommendation based on the City’s existing monitoring, treatment, regulatory compliance, and public outreach efforts (Exhibit 2). The required findings and recommendations, along with a summary of the City’s responses, are provided below.
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.
City Response – The City agrees that PFAS is present in portions of the Orange County Groundwater Basin, including groundwater sources serving the City. The City has monitored PFAS for more than a decade through UCMR 3, UCMR 5, and multiple monitoring orders issued by the California Division of Drinking Water. Applicable PFAS monitoring results are reported through the City’s annual Water Quality Report, with additional information available through the City’s Water Quality webpage.
•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.
City Response – The City agrees that OCWD has provided regional leadership, Orange County Grand Jury's Investigative Report Titled “PFAS and Public Awareness:
A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water” dated June 6, 2026 September 15, 2026
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monitoring support, treatment planning, and financial assistance to local groundwater producers. The City has worked closely with OCWD to advance PFAS treatment projects, including the operational Well 40 treatment facility and treatment projects currently under construction or being planned. Differences in treatment schedules among water agencies reflect variations in well conditions, site constraints, treatment capacities, permitting requirements, and construction needs.
•F6 - Orange County drinking water meets or exceeds state and federal standards and is safe for consumption without additional home filtration.
City Response – The City agrees that Orange County drinking water meets applicable state and federal standards and is safe for consumption without household filtration. The City continues to monitor its water sources and distribution system in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. •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.
City Response – The City agrees that PFAS outreach practices vary among Orange County water retailers, but disagrees to the extent the finding suggests that Santa Ana has limited online PFAS education or relies primarily on OCWD for PFAS outreach. The City maintains a dedicated Water Quality webpage (https://santa-ana.gov/water-quality/), provides PFAS information in its annual Water Quality Reports, and conducts project-specific community outreach regarding its PFAS treatment program.
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]
City Response – The City is already implementing the actions identified in this recommendation. The City monitors its groundwater production wells in accordance with applicable state and federal requirements and coordinates with OCWD regarding groundwater monitoring. When monitoring identifies conditions requiring action, the City restricts use of affected sources as appropriate and implements treatment or other corrective measures in coordination with regulators and OCWD. These monitoring and treatment efforts are already underway and will continue through and beyond July 1, 2029.
Orange County Grand Jury's Investigative Report Titled “PFAS and Public Awareness:
A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water” dated June 6, 2026 September 15, 2026
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•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]
City Response – The City is already implementing the public reporting and communication practices identified in this recommendation. The City provides PFAS monitoring, compliance, treatment facility, and drinking water safety information through its annual Water Quality Reports and Water Quality webpage and will continue updating these resources in clear, understandable language as treatment projects and regulatory requirements evolve.
•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]
City Response – The City is already implementing coordinated PFAS public education through multiple established channels, including its Water Quality webpage, annual Water Quality Reports, and project-specific community outreach. The City also coordinates with OCWD and other regulatory agencies to provide consistent and accurate information regarding drinking water safety.
These coordinated efforts are already underway and will continue through and beyond September 30, 2026 as PFAS projects advance and regulatory requirements evolve.
The City’s response demonstrates that many of the practices identified in the OCGJ report are already incorporated into the City’s water quality monitoring, PFAS treatment, and public outreach programs. The response also identifies the City’s continued commitment to monitoring PFAS, advancing treatment projects, maintaining regulatory compliance, and providing transparent information to the community.
The OCGJ report is provided for City Council’s receipt and filing. The City’s proposed response is recommended for City Council approval. Upon approval, the City Manager will be authorized to submit the City’s response to the Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court in accordance with California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Orange County Grand Jury's Investigative Report Titled “PFAS and Public Awareness:
A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water” dated June 6, 2026 September 15, 2026
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EXHIBIT(S)
1. County of Orange Grand Jury Report, "PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water"
2. City of Santa Ana Response to County of Orange Grand Jury Report, "PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water" Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P.E., Acting Executive Director of Public Works Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager