Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control BoardBoard

Update on Maximum Update on Maximum BenefitBenefit

And Perchlorate IssuesAnd Perchlorate Issues

In the Chino BasinIn the Chino Basin

Gerard J. Thibeault, P.E.Gerard J. Thibeault, P.E.

Executive OfficerExecutive Officer

July 20, 2004July 20, 2004

Nitrogen/TDS Basin PlanNitrogen/TDS Basin PlanAmendmentAmendment

N/TDS Task ForceN/TDS Task Force 7-Year Effort7-Year Effort Funded by water supply, wastewater, Funded by water supply, wastewater,

& other governmental agencies& other governmental agencies Scientific review of water quality Scientific review of water quality

objectives adopted in 1972.objectives adopted in 1972. Evaluated Santa Ana Basin for Evaluated Santa Ana Basin for

assimilative capacityassimilative capacity

Assimilative CapacityAssimilative Capacity

If assimilative capacity exists, then If assimilative capacity exists, then may discharge at quality in excess of may discharge at quality in excess of objectives, if supported by objectives, if supported by antidegradation analysis (maximum antidegradation analysis (maximum benefit & support beneficial uses)benefit & support beneficial uses)

If no assimilative capacity, may not If no assimilative capacity, may not discharge at quality above objectives discharge at quality above objectives (Rancho Caballero decision)(Rancho Caballero decision)

““Maximum Benefit” Maximum Benefit” ObjectivesObjectives

In many cases, historic water quality In many cases, historic water quality was very good, and hence, was very good, and hence, calculated antidegradation objectives calculated antidegradation objectives were found to be very restrictivewere found to be very restrictive

Objectives too low, with little or no Objectives too low, with little or no assimilative capacity, for discharge assimilative capacity, for discharge of recycled water, or even SPWof recycled water, or even SPW

Bo tto m o fA quifer

G rid C ell Pro perties:Specific yield ,co ncentratio n

W aterL evel

C am b = 1 /V T * S(V i * c i)

ùùùù

ùùùùùù

GGGG

G

GGGG

GG

LakeElsinore

San Jacinto Fault

San Andreas Fault

230

684

983

381

476

805

319

289

234

1021

1258

545

476 321

520

332

212

407

812

721

560 665

260

568

264

313

293

255262

730

650

732

585

911

Not enough data

Not enough data

Preliminary Management Zones

0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles

N

Basin Plan Sub-Basins

TDS (mg/L)Historical Ambient Concentrations

1954-1973

TDS (mg/L)Current - Historical Concentrations

ùùùù

ùùùùùù

GGGG

G

GGGG

GG

LakeElsinore

San Jacinto Fault

San Andreas Fault

-4

72

3

1

-15

15

31

-14

2341

1932

475

68

298

44

213

-71

48

-4

-117 -86

37

182

-24

41

33

70

4457

30

-20

-2

27

Not enough dataNot enough data

Not enough data

Preliminary Management Zones

0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles

N

Basin Plan Sub-BasinsTDS (mg/L)

Historical Ambient Concentrations1954-1973

TDS (mg/L)Current - Historical Concentrations

ùùùù

ùùùùùù

GGGG

G

GGGG

GG

LakeElsinore

San Jacinto Fault

San Andreas Fault

2.0

8.3

25.5

1.5

1.0

10.5

4.1

4.2

7.6

2.5

2.8

2.5

1.7

2.0

4.1

1.4

1.0

7.3

2.4

2.7

19.5

13.3

6.2 12.1

1.9

5.2

1.5

2.7

2.9

4.9

3.5

13.3

3.7

5.9

Not enough data

Not enough data

Preliminary Management Zones

0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles

N

Basin Plan Sub-Basins

Nitrate-N (mg/L)Historical Ambient Concentrations

1954-1973

ùùùù

ùùùùùù

GGGG

G

GGGG

GG

LakeElsinore

San Jacinto Fault

San Andreas Fault

0.7

7.2

1.1

1.6

2.3

1.0

0.5

-0.9

2.6

2.4

1.2

0.5

1.1

0.5

0.9

-1.80.2

1.5

-1.8 -2.6

0.8

-0.5

1.3

1.8

4.5

2.0

4.8

15.8

6.2

3.4

-0.3

1.5

Not enough data

Not enough data

Not enough data

Preliminary Management Zones

0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles

N

Basin Plan Sub-BasinsTDS (mg/L)

Historical Ambient Concentrations1954-1973

Nitrate-N (mg/L)Current - Historical Concentrations

Max Ben ObjectivesMax Ben Objectives

Three areas made requests for objectives Three areas made requests for objectives less stringent than the scientifically-less stringent than the scientifically-derived antidegradation objectivesderived antidegradation objectives

Chino Basin, Yucaipa, and BeaumontChino Basin, Yucaipa, and Beaumont

Made proposals for integrated water Made proposals for integrated water quality and water supply management quality and water supply management strategies, including alternative WQ strategies, including alternative WQ objectivesobjectives

Max Ben ObjectivesMax Ben Objectives

Less stringent objectives would Less stringent objectives would allow lowering of water quality, so allow lowering of water quality, so must satisfy state’s antidegradation must satisfy state’s antidegradation policy – Resolution 68-16policy – Resolution 68-16 1. Demonstrate that beneficial uses will 1. Demonstrate that beneficial uses will

continue to be protectedcontinue to be protected 2. Water quality consistent with 2. Water quality consistent with

maximum benefit to the people of the maximum benefit to the people of the state will be maintainedstate will be maintained

Max Ben DemonstrationMax Ben Demonstration

Chino Basin ExampleChino Basin Example Integrated water supply planIntegrated water supply plan

Recycled waterRecycled water Enhanced stormwater captureEnhanced stormwater capture Two (later, three) desaltersTwo (later, three) desalters Recharge excess low-TDS SPWRecharge excess low-TDS SPW Hydraulic IsolationHydraulic Isolation Extensive monitoring proposalExtensive monitoring proposal Water softener improvement programWater softener improvement program

Chino Basin Max BenefitChino Basin Max Benefit

Max benefit to people of stateMax benefit to people of state Extraction and treatment of salt-Extraction and treatment of salt-

contaminated groundwatercontaminated groundwater Protect downstream users from rising Protect downstream users from rising

poor-quality groundwaterpoor-quality groundwater Less reliance on SPW for growthLess reliance on SPW for growth Integrated water supply planning – Integrated water supply planning –

Optimum Basin Management ProgramOptimum Basin Management Program

Basin Plan AmendmentBasin Plan Amendment

Regional Board strongly supported Regional Board strongly supported task force efforttask force effort

Amendment incorporating max ben Amendment incorporating max ben objectives for Chino Basin adopted objectives for Chino Basin adopted without dissent or objectionwithout dissent or objection

Forwarded to State Board and Office Forwarded to State Board and Office of Administrative Law for adoptionof Administrative Law for adoption

Current Status of Max Ben Current Status of Max Ben Basin Plan AmendmentBasin Plan Amendment

State Board staff review completeState Board staff review complete Never before attemptedNever before attempted Significant discussion and explanationSignificant discussion and explanation Asked for more explanation added to textAsked for more explanation added to text Judged non-substantive changesJudged non-substantive changes S.B. staff agreed to take BPA to S.B.S.B. staff agreed to take BPA to S.B.

Requested expedited hearingRequested expedited hearing State Board W.S. on September 8State Board W.S. on September 8thth

State Board hearing on September 23State Board hearing on September 23rdrd

Public Drinking Water Public Drinking Water Wells Affected by Wells Affected by PerchloratePerchlorate

Riverside County: 61Riverside County: 61 San Bernardino County: 80San Bernardino County: 80 Orange County: 31Orange County: 31 Santa Ana Region total: 172Santa Ana Region total: 172 Statewide: 338Statewide: 338

Perchlorate Source AreasPerchlorate Source Areas

North Rialto (DOD, defense North Rialto (DOD, defense contractors, fireworks)contractors, fireworks)

Mentone (Lockheed Martin)Mentone (Lockheed Martin) Glen Avon (Stringfellow site)Glen Avon (Stringfellow site) Orange County (Colorado River Orange County (Colorado River

water)water) Historic Chilean Fertilizer Use - ???Historic Chilean Fertilizer Use - ???

Rialto/Colton/Fontana WellsRialto/Colton/Fontana WellsAffected by PerchlorateAffected by Perchlorate

WVWD –WVWD – 55 8,000 gpm8,000 gpm Rialto – Rialto – 5 5 10,206 gpm10,206 gpm Colton – Colton – 3 3 4,713 gpm4,713 gpm Fontana WC – Fontana WC – 77 14,900 gpm14,900 gpm

TotalTotal 2020 37,819 gpm37,819 gpm

Mid-Valley Landfill

N

PyroSpectaculars

Robertson’sReady-Mix

American PromotionalEvents

FormerBunkerArea

DenovaEnvironmental

Former West Coast Loading Corp.& Goodrich Site

AstroPyrotechnics

Rialto Concrete

Former Pond

R/C/F Regulatory ActivitiesR/C/F Regulatory Activities

21 Investigation Orders, pursuant 21 Investigation Orders, pursuant to CWC 13267to CWC 13267 14 Soil & GW Investigation Orders14 Soil & GW Investigation Orders 7 Orders for Investigation of Records7 Orders for Investigation of Records

R/C/F Regulatory ActivitiesR/C/F Regulatory Activities

Enforcement ActionsEnforcement Actions 4 Notices of Violation4 Notices of Violation 3 Administrative Civil Liability 3 Administrative Civil Liability

Complaints issued ($30,000 collected)Complaints issued ($30,000 collected) 1 Cleanup and Abatement Order to 1 Cleanup and Abatement Order to

San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino County 1 Cleanup and Abatement Order for 1 Cleanup and Abatement Order for

Astro/Peters/Whittaker Corp.Astro/Peters/Whittaker Corp.

Wellhead Treatment Wellhead Treatment SystemsSystems

City of Colton – All 3 affected wells City of Colton – All 3 affected wells have treatment systemshave treatment systems

City of Rialto – 5 wellsCity of Rialto – 5 wells 2003 – one well2003 – one well 2004 – two more wells to be added2004 – two more wells to be added

Wellhead Treatment Wellhead Treatment SystemsSystems

West Valley Water District – 5 wellsWest Valley Water District – 5 wells 2003 – two wells2003 – two wells 2005 – another well, early 20052005 – another well, early 2005

Fontana Water Company – 7 wellsFontana Water Company – 7 wells 2003 – two wells2003 – two wells 2004 – one well2004 – one well

Wellhead Treatment Wellhead Treatment SystemsSystems

$3,000,000 from SWRCB Cleanup and $3,000,000 from SWRCB Cleanup and Abatement AccountAbatement Account

$3,000,000 (+/-) from Props 13 and 50$3,000,000 (+/-) from Props 13 and 50 $4,000,000 from Goodrich settlement$4,000,000 from Goodrich settlement $135,000 to date from Regional Board $135,000 to date from Regional Board

liability assessment contributionsliability assessment contributions Regional Board requested an additional Regional Board requested an additional

$2,000,000 from Cleanup and $2,000,000 from Cleanup and Abatement AccountAbatement Account

Ongoing LitigationOngoing Litigation

West Coast Loading/Kwikset Locks/Emhart West Coast Loading/Kwikset Locks/Emhart Industries/Black & Decker – Ongoing Industries/Black & Decker – Ongoing litigation seeking relief from Regional Board litigation seeking relief from Regional Board investigation activities.investigation activities.

Two Deputies Attorney General, one Two Deputies Attorney General, one SWRCB Office of the Chief Counsel SWRCB Office of the Chief Counsel attorney, and lawyer representing City of attorney, and lawyer representing City of Rialto, as well as thousands of staff hours Rialto, as well as thousands of staff hours for litigation supportfor litigation support

Additional litigation deadlines approachAdditional litigation deadlines approach

Additional Inland Empire Additional Inland Empire SitesSites

Chino Basin Watermaster – 28 Chino Basin Watermaster – 28 wells (Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, wells (Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and Fontana)Rancho Cucamonga, and Fontana) Initiating investigation activitiesInitiating investigation activities

East Valley Water District, City of East Valley Water District, City of San Bernardino and City of San Bernardino and City of Riverside – 17 wellsRiverside – 17 wells Initiating investigation activitiesInitiating investigation activities

Citrus and PerchlorateCitrus and Perchlorate

Many contaminated areas with no Many contaminated areas with no sourcessources

Staff research – Chilean Nitrate fertilizer Staff research – Chilean Nitrate fertilizer mined since late 1800’s, and imported mined since late 1800’s, and imported to citrus groves in Inland Empire from to citrus groves in Inland Empire from early to mid-1900’s (possible from late early to mid-1900’s (possible from late 1800’s)1800’s)

Heavily used for Inland Empire citrus Heavily used for Inland Empire citrus productionproduction

Citrus and PerchlorateCitrus and Perchlorate

Hundreds of thousands of tons thru Hundreds of thousands of tons thru WWIIWWII

Chilean contains 0.2% perchlorateChilean contains 0.2% perchlorate Acts much like nitrateActs much like nitrate Chilean Nitrate, alone or combined Chilean Nitrate, alone or combined

with CRW, may be source of with CRW, may be source of widespread low-level perchlorate widespread low-level perchlorate contaminationcontamination

California Citrograph

March, 1925

California Citrograph

October, 1928

Citrus and PerchlorateCitrus and Perchlorate

Certain affected parties are upset with Certain affected parties are upset with findings of this researchfindings of this research

Part of cleanup costs would not be Part of cleanup costs would not be responsibility of industrial sourcesresponsibility of industrial sources

Public would be required to pay for Public would be required to pay for portion of cleanup and wellhead portion of cleanup and wellhead treatmenttreatment

Expect this to be subject of future Expect this to be subject of future senate hearingssenate hearings