Peter CaulfieldCOURTESY ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES — An important milestone for the Anaheim Public Utilities’ Groundwater Treatment Program was reached in late July, when the first water filters of the treatment system were installed at its Linda Vista Complex. The GTP calls for installing treatment systems at 14 wells on nine sites over the next two years.
Anaheim is one of about 150 California public water systems that have detected what are sometimes called “forever chemicals” in its well-water. The chemicals can make their way into local water bodies, such as the Santa Ana River, which replenishes much of Orange County’s groundwater.COURTESY ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES — Pictured is a crane lifting a filtering tank into place at the Energy Field treatment plant.Although Anaheim’s water is treated and tested, it is only recently that technology has advanced to the point that it can detect tiny traces of the chemicals.
Anaheim spokesman Mike Lyster said the GTP calls for installing treatment systems at 14 wells on nine sites over the next two years.Phase 1: Installation of treatment systems at five sites, awarded in early 2021;Phase 3: Early planning and consideration of installing treatment systems for the remaining five wells that remain in service.
Anaheim’s groundwater wells are a more cost-effective source of reliable water for the city, Lyster said.