On October 3, 2024, the EWRI OC chapter hosted its annual technical tour at the City of Anaheim’s Linda Vista PFAS Treatment Plant. Approximately 30 attendees, including private consultants and public sector professionals, participated in the event. The tour was led by Jake Hester, Water Engineering Manager for Anaheim Public Utilities, with support from Divya Agrawalla, Project Manager of the Groundwater Treatment Project. The event had two sponsors: Jerome Ruddins from Michael Baker International, who served as the Owner’s Agent during the Design-Build project, and Randy Lovan from MWH Constructors, representing the Construction Management team for the Project.
Aerial photo of the Linda Vista PFAS Treatment Plant.
The event started with a networking lunch held on-site, adjacent to the active PFAS treatment line, which features 20 ion exchange filter vessels. Attendees had the opportunity to mingle and enjoy their meal under a canopy while overlooking the newly constructed plant.
Jake Hester, Water Engineering Manager for Anaheim Public Utilities, showcasing one of the nine PFAS treatment plants constructed.
Jake Hester provided a comprehensive overview of the Groundwater Treatment Project, explaining that it was divided into two phases to expedite construction after the City of Anaheim ceased well usage due to PFAS detection. The Project consisted of nine separate PFAS treatment plants with a total design flow of 70 million gallons per day (MGD). The first phase consisted of sites ready for construction, while the second phase was created because additional research was required to secure adequate land for the full treatment capacity. The Linda Vista site, the largest in Phase 1, treats up to 16,300 gallons per minute (gpm) from five local wells. This facility is the second-largest PFAS treatment plant in the nation, second only to the nearby Yorba Linda Water District facility. The total construction cost of the nine sites was approximately $155 million. During Phase 1, the City relied on water purchases from the Metropolitan Water District to meet its needs; the water supply option is twice as expensive as groundwater. One of the biggest challenges faced during construction was the delay in procuring equipment due to COVID-related supply chain issues. By late 2023, the Linda Vista plant was fully operational, allowing the City to reduce water purchases drastically.
The tour continued inside the operations building, which serves as a redundant operations site for the City’s water supply system. Groundwater is sourced from an aquifer approximately 800 feet below ground and pre-treated to remove suspended solids. The water is then processed through ion exchange filters to remove PFAS before being disinfected with hypochlorite and stored in an on-site reservoir. This treated water supplies two pressure zones, serving prominent local landmarks such as Disneyland, the Grove, and Angel Stadium.
After the tour, EWRI presented an award to Divya Agrawalla in recognition of her exceptional project management.
EWRI OC recognizing an award to Divya Agrawalla (Project Manager of the Groundwater Treatment Project) for her successful management.
About the Author:
Judy Beik is a civil engineer with a focus in water and wastewater engineering in Orange County, CA. She is passionate about projects that help improve community water safety and security. Judy can be contacted at jbeik@mknassociate.us or LinkedIn.
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