Pico Rivera dedicates $15 million water treatment plant, to put ‘well-being first and foremost’ – San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Mayor Andrew Lara joined other city leaders in dedicating a new water treatment facility in Pico Rivera on Monday, calling the $15 million Groundwater Treatment Project a milestone decades in the making.

“This sends a message to our residents that we will put their health and well-being first and foremost,” Lara said. “This underscores Pico Rivera’s obligation to safeguard water quality for future generations and prioritize our community’s well-being through strategic investment and inter-agency collaboration.”

The new treatment plant is part of the city’s 2020 Water Master Plan, launched in response to state mandates on drinking water. City staff and the City Council spent years working to safeguard the health of the community after industrial pollution contaminated many of the region’s groundwater aquifers, Lara said.

“Residents are having to pay their fair share to clean up water they never polluted,” he said, adding the city has joined lawsuits against companies such as 3M and Dupont.

Water Plant #1 at 8739 Gallatin Road in Pico Rivera will get rid of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the local water supply. PFAS levels that have been linked to cancer and other health problems have plagued local water wells in Pico Rivera and numerous other San Gabriel Valley cities.

PFAS, also called “forever chemicals” are manmade chemicals often used to make grease-proof, waterproof, nonstick or stain-resistant, and flame-resistant items such as carpeting and nonstick cookware. They do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. PFAS have been linked to health problems, including certain cancers, and can be found in water, soil, and air.

“We’re the first city in Southern California to have been issued a license (by the State Water Resources Control Board) to operate our filtration system,” Lara said, setting a new water quality and safety standard for communities across the state. The board establishes requirements for water agencies and issued the license in August.

The project involved the construction of advanced water treatment facilities featuring fourteen Water Treatment Vessels. These vessels are designed to filter PFAS from groundwater using an ion exchange process, enhancing the safety and purity of Pico Rivera’s drinking water.

Funding for the project came from a combination of federal dollars, as well as money from the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, and funds from the Pico Rivera Water Authority. Sources include a $5.8 million grant from the Water Replenishment District of Southern California; a $2.5 million allocation from the House Appropriations Committee’s 2022 energy and water funding bill, sponsored by Rep. Linda T. Sánchez; and a $7 million allocation from PRWA, funded by Pico Rivera Water Authority ratepayers.

“Everyone deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Norwalk. “We worked tirelessly at the local and federal levels, including securing $2.5 million in federal funds, to keep this vital project moving forward. This state-of-the-art facility will now thoroughly treat our water, eliminate forever chemicals, and ensure that our community has clean water for generations.”