Groundwater Remediation project overview

 

Remediation of the San Fernando Groundwater Basin

The San Fernando Groundwater Basin (San Fernando Basin [SFB]) provides an important source of groundwater supply for the Cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, and Glendale. The SFB acts as a large, natural underground water reservoir.

The City of Los Angeles holds a prior and paramount pueblo right to the SFB. This includes the right to the surface waters of the Los Angeles River and all the native groundwater in the SFB. The City also has the right to store and recapture imported and recycled water in the SFB for later use.

Remediating the SFB is essential to maximizing underground water storage. This is important to advancing the City’s local water supplies and to reducing our reliance on imported water.

As part of the necessary remediation activities, LADWP completed the SFB Groundwater System Improvement Study (GSIS) in 2015. This six-year study characterized the groundwater basin contamination in the SFB. A copy of the study is available at the link below.

Based on the results of the study, LADWP is implementing three response actions within the most productive Northern SFB Well Fields – North Hollywood West, North Hollywood Central, and Tujunga Well Field. Specific project information can be found in the tabs below.

For additional questions/concerns regarding the remediation projects, please refer to the contact us section for each project.

Background on the San Fernando Basin Well Fields

LADWP has nine well fields that are grouped into the Northern and Southern San Fernando Basin (SFB) Well Fields. The Northern SFB Well Fields are Tujunga, Rinaldi-Toluca, North Hollywood West, and North Hollywood East. The Southern SFB Well Fields are Erwin, Verdugo, Whitnall, Headworks, and Pollock.

LADWP’s pumping from these well fields has been limited due to the public health threats posed by hazardous substances detected in groundwater. The primary hazardous substances: Trichloroethylene (TCE), Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and 1,4-dioxane. Due to the presence of hazardous substances, LADWP cannot fully utilize its water rights in the SFB, necessitating additional dependence on purchased imported water. The public health threat posed by the presence of untreated hazardous substances also impairs LADWP’s plans to increase use of the SFB for storage and coordinated use. Therefore, LADWP is undertaking a number of response actions to address the hazardous substances in groundwater present in the SFB. These response actions are intended to satisfy the following objectives

  • Protect human health and the environment by reducing the potential for exposure to hazardous substances in groundwater;
  • Limit the migration of hazardous substances in groundwater in the SFB at concentrations that impair the full beneficial use of the SFB;
  • Remove hazardous substances from groundwater in the SFB to maintain the beneficial uses of the SFB and restore the aquifer to the extent practicable; and
  • Restore LADWP’s capability to operate its existing well fields consistent with its historical and planned use in a flexible manner.

LADWP conducted a Groundwater System Improvement Study (GSIS), published in 2015. Large portions of the SFB were characterized in the study. LADWP used data from the study to prepare the GSIS Remedial Investigation (RI) Update Report. LADWP’s understanding of the groundwater basin’s physical characteristics, the nature and extent of groundwater contamination, contaminant fate and transport characteristics, and the risk to human health and environment posed by the contaminants is presented in the GSIS RI Update.

Northern SFB Well Fields

LADWP first focused on response actions within the three most productive Northern SFB Well Fields, North Hollywood West, Tujunga, and Rinaldi-Toluca. LADWP characterized the contamination near these three well fields in order to confirm the need for remediation and to select response actions. Next, LADWP completed separate remedial investigations/feasibility studies (RI/FS) for each of three well fields. Water samples collected from monitoring wells show organic and inorganic contaminants of concern. A few of the more widespread contaminants include those mentioned previously, TCE, PCE, and 1,4-Dioxane. 

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) website – Plume Maps

Southern SFB Well Fields

LADWP will now conduct a RI to characterize contamination and water quality within the Southern SFB Well Fields. Analysis to date indicates that this broader investigation of the Southern SFB Well Fields is necessary to fully restore the beneficial uses of the SFB. LADWP will begin the Southern SFB Well Fields RI field work in 2021 and plans to issue a Southern SFB Well Fields RI Report in the next few years. This work will complement the separate work being completed by EPA and others in the SFB.

Treatment Options

LADWP approved design and construction firms have designed state-of-the-art groundwater basin remediation facilities for the three Northern SFB Well Fields. The facilities have been designed to utilize best available technologies including liquid phase granular activated carbon, advanced oxidation process, and ultraviolet light in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide. These facilities are currently in construction.

California Environmental Quality Act

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a California statute passed to institute a statewide policy of environmental protection. Environmental analysis was completed for the projects needed for San Fernando Groundwater Basin Remediation. The environmental documents are available at the Environment Reports webpage.

For more information on monitoring wells, please visit: www.ladwp.com/wells

Groundwater System Improvement Study

In response to the continued degradation of water quality within the San Fernando Basin (SFB), LADWP initiated the SFB Groundwater System Improvement Study (GSIS), a six-year study completed in 2015.

The GSIS characterized groundwater conditions to the north and west of the North Hollywood, Rinaldi-Toluca and Tujunga Well Fields. Aimed at filling in data gaps, specific objectives of the GSIS included:

  1. Organizing existing data, with an emphasis on hydrogeology and water quality;
  2. Conducting additional field investigations;
  3. Updating the characterization of the groundwater basin with data analysis of geology, hydrogeology, and scope of contamination;
  4. Presenting factors that influence the fate and movement of compounds in groundwater; and
  5. Providing recommendations for future investigations, if any.

The Community Involvement Plan (CIP) is a summary of outreach efforts conducted throughout the construction of the GSIS monitoring wells., It is available at the four Information Repositories listed . The purpose of the CIP is to involve and inform the nearby community of the monitoring well construction activities and objectives.

A Supplemental Community Involvement Plan has been completed, which includes monitoring well outreach activities in the San Fernando, Sylmar, and Central Basins. This Supplemental CIP is available at the Information Repositories listed above. It is also available at the John Muir Branch Library so the Central Basin community has access information regarding monitoring well construction in their area. The Supplemental CIP as necessary, to incorporate public information or community involvement activities for the GSIS. LADWP has prepared separate CIPs for its other response actions in the SFB.

LADWP executed the GSIS as a multi-dimensional study, whereby data gaps were identified, addressed, and then re-assessed as the study was executed. LADWP developed a monitoring well program, including sampling and analysis, to fill these data gaps. LADWP collected water quality data from existing monitoring wells and newly installed multi-level clustered wells. A total of 67 existing wells were sampled in 2012/2013and a total of 75 wells at the 26 new locations, were sampled during 2014. LADWP compiled the data acquired from the GSIS and included it in the GSIS Remedial Investigation (RI) Update Report, view Executive Summary below.

The GSIS RI Update Report presented LADWP’s understanding of the SFB physical characteristics and accomplished the above stated objectives. It also summarized the risk to human health and environment posed by the contaminants.

Due to the large file size of the GSIS RI Update Report (294 MB), it has been divided into smaller sections below for viewing and downloading purposes.


The RI Update Report has been filed at the four information repositories listed below to ensure the monitoring well sites’ neighbors and the public are informed.

City of Los Angeles Central Library  
Science, Technology, & Patents Department  
630 West 5th Street  
Los Angeles, CA 90071  
(213) 228-7200

Panorama City Public Library  
14345 Roscoe Boulevard  
Panorama City, CA 91402  
(818) 894-4071

Burbank Public Library  
110 North Glenoaks Boulevard  
Burbank, CA 91502  
(818) 238-5600

City of Glendale Public Library  
222 East Harvard Street  
Glendale, CA 91205  
(818) 548-2021

For additional information regarding LADWP wells, please go to: GSIS Groundwater Monitoring Wells

North Hollywood West Response Action

North Hollywood West Response Action – Compliance with Division of Drinking Water Process Memo 97-005-R2020 – 2023 Public Hearing

The groundwater in the vicinity of the North Hollywood West Well Field is impaired by hazardous substances, and as a result, LADWP is seeking an amendment to its drinking water permit in compliance with Division of Drinking Water (DDW) Process Memo 97-005-R2020. Process Memo 97-005-R2020 is the process by which DDW evaluates the proposals, establishes appropriate permit conditions, and approves the use of an extremely impaired source for direct potable use. As part of this process, LADWP has made technical evaluations readily available for public review and has scheduled a Public Hearing to obtain public input, in cooperation with DDW.

 

Hard copies of the Draft DDW Permit, Memo 97-005 Process – Executive Summary Report, Appendix F – Full Raw Water Quality Report, Appendix J – Commissioning Report, and Fact Sheet for North Hollywood West Response Action are also available to view at the locations listed below:

John Ferraro Building
111 N. Hope Street, Room 1315
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Valley Plaza Branch Library
12311 Vanowen St.
North Hollywood, CA 91605

Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library
6145 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042

Alma Reaves Woods – Watts Branch Library
10205 Compton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90002

 

For questions, please contact:

Community Liaison  
Christina Holland  
213-367-1076  
[email protected]

Project Manager  
Priscilla Gonzalez  
213-367-4976  
[email protected]

 

North Hollywood West Response Action – Approval of 2017 Interim Remedial Action Decision

LADWP is carrying out its plan to contain and remediate groundwater, impacted and/or threatened by 1,4-Dioxane, that are entering the North Hollywood West Well Field under active pumping conditions. On August 1, 2017, the LADWP Board of Commissioners approved an Interim Remedial Action (IRA) as documented in an Interim Remedial Action Decision (IRAD). LADWP completed the Remedial Design in accordance with the IRAD. The project is currently in the Remedial Action phase — the construction of the Response Action treatment facility — which is estimated to be completed by Spring 2024.

For more information of the approved IRAD and the public meetings held in 2017, please see the following documents:

 

Guided by NCP remedy criteria and public comment, LADWP selected the Preferred Alternative for the project and prepared the IRAD. LADWP’s selected Interim Remedial Action is a groundwater pump-and-treat system intended to safeguard human health by extracting and removing 1,4-dioxane from groundwater through hydraulic control and aboveground treatment.

Hydraulic control ensures that contaminated groundwater is drawn toward designated remediation wells and away from groundwater production wells and down-gradient groundwater resources. This pumping pattern may be adjusted as additional information becomes available. Aboveground treatment incorporates advanced oxidation process (AOP) technology to transform 1,4-dioxane into innocuous by-products. Carbon quenching removes the remaining hydrogen peroxide from water downstream of the AOP. The treatment facility, currently under construction, is located near the intersection of Whitsett Ave (between Sherman Way and Vanowen St). Once in operation, the blended and treated groundwater will be conveyed to LADWP’s potable water distribution system for direct domestic use.

North Hollywood Central Response Action

Contact us regarding the North Hollywood Central Response Action project

LADWP is carrying out its plan to contain and remediate groundwater, impacted and or threatened by 1,4 dioxane and volatile organic compounds, that is entering the Rinaldi-Toluca (RT) Well Field under active pumping conditions. To meet response action objectives, the LADWP Board of Commissioners approved an Interim Remedial Action (IRA) on December 11, 2018, as documented in an Interim Remedial Action Decision (IRAD).

LADWP completed the Remedial Design in accordance with the IRAD in March 2021. The project is currently in the Remedial Action phase — the construction of the Response Action treatment facility— which is estimated to be complete in winter 2024.

Prior to approval of the IRAD, LADWP prepared and published an Interim Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS), Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA), Community Involvement Plan (CIP), and Proposed Plan. These were prepared in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

The Remedial Investigation evaluated the nature and extent of groundwater contamination at the Rinaldi-Toluca Well Field (North Hollywood Central (NHC)). The Feasibility Study evaluated a range of alternatives to address the contamination. Further, LADWP completed the HHRA as part of the RI/FS process to evaluate the potential risks to human health from exposure to contaminants, assuming that no action is taken (treatment or otherwise) to address contamination in the aquifer at the well, among other risks.

LADWP prepared the CIP to support meaningful community participation in the RT Well Field Response Action. LADWP prepared the NHC Proposed Plan to identify and present LADWP’s preferred remedial alternative, while seeking state and community input, feedback, suggestions, comments, changes, or alternatives. All of these documents are available to view and download on this webpage.

LADWP informed the community about the proposed NHC Interim Remedial Action during an August 16, 2018 public meeting. A formal public comment period was held from August 2 to October 4, 2018. The presentation and transcript of the public meeting are available on this webpage. The response to comments from the public comment meeting and comment period are included in the IRAD.

Public Meeting Presentation – August 16, 2018  
Public Meeting Transcript – August 16, 2018  
Fact Sheet for North Hollywood Central  
Fact Sheet for North Hollywood Central Chlorination Station

Guided by NCP remedy criteria and public comment, LADWP selected the Preferred Alternative for the project and prepared the IRAD. LADWP’s selected Interim Remedial Action is a groundwater pump-and-treat system intended to safeguard human health by extracting and removing 1,4-dioxane, trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), from groundwater through hydraulic control and aboveground treatment.

Hydraulic control ensures that contaminated groundwater is drawn toward five designated remediation wells, and away from production wells and down-gradient groundwater resources. LADWP plans to operate the remediation wells on a full-time basis and the production wells on an intermittent basis. This pumping pattern may be adjusted as additional information becomes available. Aboveground treatment incorporates advanced oxidation process (AOP) technology to transform 1,4-dioxane, as well as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), into innocuous by-products. Carbon quenching removes the remaining hydrogen peroxide from water downstream of the AOP. The treatment facility, currently under construction, is located at the LADWP North Hollywood Pump Station Complex, north of Vanowen Street, between Hinds and Morella Avenues. Once in operation, the blended and treated groundwater will be conveyed to LADWP’s potable water distribution system for direct domestic use.

LADWP regularly conducts extensive water quality testing, as mandated by State and Federal laws and regulations. The most recent results are provided in LADWP’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

Hard copies of these documents are also available to view at the Information Repositories listed below:

City of Los Angeles Central Library  
Science, Technology, & Patents Department  
630 West 5th Street  
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Panorama City Public Library  
14345 Roscoe Boulevard  
Panorama City, CA 91402

Burbank Public Library  
110 North Glenoaks Boulevard  
Burbank, CA 91502

City of Glendale Public Library  
222 East Harvard Street  
Glendale, CA 91205

Contact Information

Community Liaison  
Christina Holland  
213-367-1076  
[email protected]

Project Manager  
Ana Avelar  
213-367-3948  
[email protected]

Tujunga Well Field Response Action

LADWP is carrying out its plan to contain and remediate groundwater, impacted and/or threatened by 1,4 dioxane and volatile organic compounds, that is entering the Tujunga Well Field under active pumping conditions. To meet response action objectives, the LADWP Board of Commissioners approved an Interim Remedial Action (IRA) on January 22, 2019, as documented in an Interim Remedial Action Decision (IRAD).

LADWP completed the Remedial Design in March 2021. The project has entered into the Remedial Action phase — the construction of the Response Action treatment facility — which is estimated to be complete in winter 2024.

Prior to approval of the IRAD, LADWP prepared and published an Interim Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS), Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA), Community Involvement Plan (CIP), and Proposed Plan. These were prepared in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

The Remedial Investigation evaluated the nature and extent of groundwater contamination at the Tujunga Well Field. The Feasibility Study evaluated a range of alternatives to address the contamination. Further, LADWP completed the HHRA as part of the RI/FS process to evaluate the potential risks to human health from exposure to contaminants, assuming that no action is taken (treatment or otherwise) to address contamination in the aquifer at the well, among other risks.

LADWP prepared the CIP to support meaningful community participation in the Tujunga Well Field Response Action. LADWP prepared the Tujunga Well Field Proposed Plan to identify and present LADWP’s preferred remedial alternative, while seeking state and community input, feedback, suggestions, comments, changes, or alternatives. All of these documents are available to view and download on this webpage.

LADWP informed the community about the Tujunga Interim Remedial Action during a public meeting at the Branford Recreation Center on July 26, 2018. A formal public comment period was held from July 12, to September 12, 2018. The presentation and transcript of the public meeting are available below. The response to comments from the public meeting and comment period are included in the IRAD.

Public Meeting Presentation – July 26, 2018  
Public Meeting Transcript – July 26, 2018  
Fact Sheet for Tujunga Well Field

Guided by NCP remedy criteria and public comment, LADWP selected the Preferred Alternative for the project and prepared the IRAD. LADWP’s selected IRA is a groundwater pump-and-treat system intended to safeguard human health by extracting and removing 1,4-dioxane and volatile organic compounds (VOC, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE)) through hydraulic control and aboveground treatment.

Hydraulic control ensures that contaminated groundwater is drawn toward designated remediation wells and away from groundwater production wells and down-gradient groundwater resources. This pumping pattern may be adjusted as additional information becomes available. Aboveground treatment will include advanced oxidation process (AOP) technology to transform 1,4-dioxane, as well as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), into innocuous by-products. Granular activated carbon (GAC) removes VOCs and remaining hydrogen peroxide from water downstream of the AOP. The treatment facility, currently under construction, is located in the northeast corner of the Tujunga spreading grounds, which is north of the intersection of the Interstate 5 freeway and State Highway 170. The blended and treated groundwater will be conveyed to the LADWP potable water distribution system for direct domestic use.

LADWP regularly conducts extensive water quality testing of the drinking water it serves to customers, as mandated by State and Federal laws and regulations. The most recent results are provided in LADWP’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

Hard copies of these documents are also available to view at the Information Repositories listed below:

City of Los Angeles Central Library  
Science, Technology, & Patents Department  
630 West 5th Street  
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Panorama City Public Library  
14345 Roscoe Boulevard  
Panorama City, CA 91402

Burbank Public Library  
110 North Glenoaks Boulevard  
Burbank, CA 91502

City of Glendale Public Library  
222 East Harvard Street  
Glendale, CA 91205

Contact Information

Community Liaison  
Christina Holland  
213-367-1076  
[email protected]

Project Manager  
Ana Avelar  
213-367-3948  
[email protected]

Southern SFB (San Fernando Basin) Well Fields

LADWP is conducting a Remedial Investigation (RI) in the vicinity of its Erwin, Verdugo, Whitnall, Headworks, and Pollock Well Fields (collectively referred to as the “Southern SFB Well Fields”) in response to the historic release and threatened future release of hazardous substances. This work will complement other response actions in the SFB, such as those being carried out under the oversight of the EPA and others.

The objective of the Remedial Investigation is to evaluate water quality, the nature and extent of hazardous substances or constituents of potential concern (COPC), and to evaluate potential risks to human health and the environment posed by any identified COPC(s). If unacceptable risks exist, then LADWP will conduct one or more feasibility studies (FS) to identify preferred interim remedial alternative(s) that will eliminate, reduce, or control unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.

In conjunction with the Southern SFB Well Fields RI, LADWP continues to perform community involvement activities with federal, state and local agencies, private parties, the public, as well as other targeted audiences (e.g., non-governmental organizations), collectively “the community” to understand and address specific needs and concerns of the community. Community involvement activities are outlined in the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) for the Southern SFB Well Fields RI. These activities include: designating a Community Involvement Coordinator; establishing public information repositories; conducting community outreach activities; preparing and distributing collateral materials, including notification letters and fact sheets; and preparing and conducting community group presentations.

LADWP prepared a Southern SFB Well Fields RI Work Plan that outlines the approach LADWP will use for conducting and documenting the Southern SFB Well Fields RI. The Southern SFB Well Fields RI field work has begun and will be completed over the next two years.

Southern SFB Well Fields Fact Sheet

Groundwater Informational Resources

Operable Units

In the 1980s, groundwater monitoring in the San Fernando Valley detected concentrations of volatile organic compounds in excess of state and federal drinking water standards. Shortly thereafter, the USEPA and other agencies began coordinating efforts to address the contamination in the San Fernando Basin. USEPA identified five operable units to focus remediation efforts and to accelerate regional cleanup. Additional information is provided at the links below.

For more information on monitoring wells, please visit: www.ladwp.com/wells

Past Fact Sheets  
San Fernando Groundwater Basin Fact Sheet

Past Presentations  
San Fernando Groundwater Basin Remediation Update Presentation - 2/3/18 LADWP MOU Committee