2023: EPA Finds PFAS Contamination in the Drinking Water and Lake Arrowhead.
A recent October 2023 EPA study has found toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS in the Lake Arrowhead drinking water and Lake Arrowhead itself. Those Lake Arrowhead test results show a total PFAS level of 37 PPT. That level is 9.25 times higher than the EPA's safe level of 4 PPT which the EPA plans to officially adopt later this year. LACSD refuses to acknowledge this excess.
Comparison of Lake Arrowhead total PFAS concentration levels to other areas. (PPT or ng/L)
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Inglewood - 4.3
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Redlands - 4.7
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Torrance - 5.1
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Calimesa - 9.8
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San Bernardino City - 14
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Lake Arrowhead - 37
PFAS are a family of more than 5,000 man-made and mostly unregulated chemicals that have been produced since the mid-1900s. They are mobile, persistent, and bioaccumulative. They are resistant to degradation in the environment and when degradation occurs, it often results in the formation of other PFAS compounds.
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Based on current available peer-reviewed studies on laboratory animals and epidemiological evidence in human populations, the U.S. EPA released the following statement: “These studies indicate that exposure to PFOA and PFOS over certain levels may result in adverse health effects, including developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy or to breastfed infants (e.g., low birth weight, accelerated puberty, skeletal variations), cancer (e.g., testicular, kidney), liver effects (e.g., tissue damage), immune effects (e.g., antibody production and immunity), thyroid effects and other effects (e.g., cholesterol changes).”
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The mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, California, siting at an elevation of 5000 feet has relied predominantly on tourism with no history of manufacturing or any industrial zones. Recent testing has shown elevated levels of PFAS in the drinking water, roughly 200% above normal levels with a total PFAS level of 37 PPT. In comparison, other areas such as Redlands, San Bernardino City, Riverside, Compton and Inglewood which have all had a historical manufacturing base show lower levels of PFAS contamination than Lake Arrowhead. The question that arises is what is the source of the PFAS contamination within Lake Arrowhead?
Interactive PFAS Contamination Map in the U.S. (November 28, 2023)
Since 2009, LACSD has been under a cease a desist order (CDO) for excessive inflow/infiltration (I/I) related to its sewer infrastructure. Furthermore, 230 Acre Feet of sewage water is converted annually into recycled water which is used for irrigation purposes at the Lake Arrowhead County Club and Grass Valley Park. The working theory is that the elevated levels of PFAS is a direct result of a combination of the existing sewer system AND the recycled water currently being treated at the Grass Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant draining down into the earth and reaching the wells/aquifers and the lake.
LACSD Press Release (11-17-2023)
VIDEO - LACSD Board of Directors Meeting (11-14-2023) Highlight Links Below.
1. LACSD Board PFAS Contamination Discussion.
2. LACSD Commercial "Rarely do we stop to think about what life would be like without clean water."
3. Water toast.
American Cancer Society and PFOA: Should I take measures to protect myself?
Drinking water: Drinking water is a main source of exposure for people in communities with contaminated water. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people whose regular source of drinking water is found to have higher than normal levels of PFOA or similar chemicals might consider using bottled water or installing activated carbon water filters. If you do not know if your water is contaminated, ask your local health department.
2020: The Water Board Orders LACSD to Monitor PFAS Concentration Levels at the Grass Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant.
On July 9, 2020, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) ordered LACSD to submit PFAS concentration levels at their waste water treatment plant. The rationale was that publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) are potentially significant receivers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and have the potential to discharge these wastes to the environment. Potential discharges include, but are not limited to, wastewater effluent to surface waters and/or percolation basins, biosolids, and reverse osmosis concentrate/retentate from some treatment facilities. 4 quarters of testing at the Grass Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant showed excessive levels of PFAS both in the sewer water entering the plant as well as the treated water exiting the plant.
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If PFAS-bearing wastes were discharged into the wastewater collection system, then it is likely that PFAS were discharged from the POTS in the effluent (including brine) and biosolids. The discharge of effluent may pose a threat to water quality if the effluent was discharged directly to surface waters or allowed to percolate to groundwater. PFAS in effluent discharges entering receiving waters also have the potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic food webs. Land application of biosolids may pose a threat to water quality by constituents percolating to groundwater or through water (such as irrigation water or storm water) carrying constituents to surface waters.
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In 2020 and 2021, LACSD began monitoring the influent (waste water entering the GVWTTP) and the effluent (treated water exiting the GVWTTP). Elevated level of PFAS were reported for each quarter of testing in the influent water entering the plant, the effluent water exiting the plant as well as monitoring well 7.
Excessive levels of PFAS contaminants were found in the influent water, effluent water and also monitoring well 7 after 1 year of quarterly monitoring.
Citation:
12/16/2020 - Influent/Effluent GVWWTP
3/22/2021 - Influent/Effluent GVWWTP
6/16/2021 - Influent/Effluent GVWWTP
2013: The Water Board Issues a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) Against LACSD for Infiltration and Inflow of the Lake Arrowhead Sewer System.
The Lahontan Water Board’s Prosecution Team issued a draft Cease and Desist Order on December 31, 2012 to Lake Arrowhead Community Services District. The draft Cease and Desist Order proposes a time schedule for the District to complete a system analysis report of its sewer collection system and prepare a plan to prioritize and implement repair, rehabilitation, and replacement projects to reduce excessive inflow of stormwater into the District’s sewer collection system. The draft Order also specifies interim and final standards to meet specific reductions of stormwater inflow to the sewage collection system by completing implementation of the sewer improvement projects.
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A public hearing regarding the Order was scheduled for the Lahontan Water Board’s March 13-14, 2013 Board meeting in Lake Arrowhead, California. As a result of the hearing a CDO was issued mandating LACSD to clean up its act and address inflow and infiltration issues relating to the sewer infrastructure.
Notice Of Violations:
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July 14, 2021 - Water Board staff received information from the District regarding a category 1 sanitary sewer overflow to Lake Arrowhead. The incident occurred near 482 State Highway 173, Lake Arrowhead. An estimated 2,875 gallons of untreated sewage were released from a manhole and ran down a hillside into Lake Arrowhead.
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November 9, 2022 - On November 9, 2022, a 2-inch steel pipe located within a manhole broke and caused a spill of approximately 21,000 gallons of mixed secondary and tertiary treated effluent. The manhole is located approximately ¼-mile north of the Arrowhead Fish and Game Conservation Club. The manhole is part of the outfall pipeline that carries treated effluent from the Lake Arrowhead wastewater treatment plant to the percolation ponds at the Effluent Management Site in Hesperia.
March 15, 2023 - Between March 15-27 and 29-30, District staff conducted a controlled discharge of a total of 10,096,275 gallons of tertiary treated and secondary treated wastewater to an unnamed creek behind the plant that leads to Grass Valley Creek a quarter of a mile to the north. The controlled discharge came as a result of combined snow melt and significant rainfall. The capacity at the two storage ponds in the Willow Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant was exceeded. The storage holding pond and unused clarifiers at the Grass Valley Plant were also exceeded. Under normal operations, treated effluent is either discharged to the holding pond at the Grass Valley Plant for use at the Lake Arrowhead golf course or discharged to the percolation ponds at the Hesperia Effluent Management Site (Hesperia EMS). The Grass Valley Plant connects to the Hesperia EMS via an outfall pipeline with a design capacity of 4 million gallons per day (MGD).
LACSD Sewer Infrastructure
LACSD Sources of Water
2007: The Recycling of Sewage Water at the Grass Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant.
In 2007 the Lahontan Water Board granted approval for phase I of LACSD's recycled water plan to supply up to 1 million gallons per day of recycled water to the Lake Arrowhead County Club Golf Course and potentially to other unidentified users in the Lake Arrowhead area. Currently, LACSD supplies 230 Acre Feet of recycled water to LACC which averages out to 205,000 gallons per day.
Under the order, LACSD is the producer and the distributor of the recycled water. LACSD has identified the Lake Arrowhead Country Club Golf Course and the Lake Arrowhead Grass Valley Park Association as potential users. LACSD has recently completed five new ground water production wells (No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) for irrigation and drinking water purposed on Lake Arrowhead Country Club property in Grass Valley.
LACSD completed an environmental analysis for the project. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the recycled water will average approximately 300 mg/L. The average TDS concentration of water provided through water supply wells is 168 mg/L. The average TDS concentration in Lake Arrowhead was calculated between 50 and 85 mg/L. The recycled water may percolate to ground water when applied for reuse at the Lake Arrowhead County Club Golf Course or at other sites. Due to the difference in TDS concentration of 132 mg/L between recycled water and ground water, the project has the potential to degrade ground water for TDS, although such degradation is expected to be minor. The TDS concentration in the ground water of the Lake Arrowhead area could potentially increase to 208 mg/L following the use of recycled water.
The recycled water project may also result in percolation of nitrate-nitrogen to ground water in concentrations above the estimated background concentration of 2 mg/L in the receiving water. LACSD is required to ensure that best management practices (BMPs) are implemented to prevent changes in ground water quality that would unreasonably affect the beneficial uses of the receiving water.
Grass Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant
Grass Valley Groundwater Well System
January 2024: LACSD Confirms That the Recycled Water Used for Irrigation at LACC Contains PFAS Contamination.
LACSD's sewage (effluent) management begins with raw sewage being processed at the Grass Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant. The conventional treatment creates Effluent which is sent to Hesperia for dispersal at their percolation fields. A portion of the effluent is further processed and turned into recycled water for irrigation use at the Lake Arrowhead Country Club. The recycled water season occurs between April through October.
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The biosolid sludge left over after processing (1409 tons annually) is disposed through composting into soil amendment products, which is undertaken at the Hawes compost facility of Nursery Products, LLC near Hinkley, California.
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Although transformation from parent PFAS to intermediate and terminal PFAS products can occur, conventional wastewater treatment generally does not remove or destroy PFAS, resulting in their release through the effluent or biosolids (Houtz et al., 2018, 2016). A meta-analysis concluded perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) did not significantly change between influent and effluent, while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) tended to be 6 ng/L higher in effluent than influent (Thompson et al., 2022).
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A portion of the treated sewer is further processed partially reducing the PFAS becoming "recycled" ("reclaimed") water. At no time are the total PFAS reduced to a safe level as set by the EPA. Below is the latest LACSD data released on 1/11/2024 which confirms that the recycled water is contaminated with PFAS.
2017: LACSD and UNLV Conduct Tracer Dye Testing in Lake Arrowhead to Determine the Feasibility of Surface Water Augmentation With Recycled Water.
In 2017, The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) entered into a cooperative agreement with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for a Science and Technology Program titled, Evaluation of Approaches to Determine Mixing and Assimilation of Reuse Effluent. The program proposes using two environmentally safe tracers to investigate the pattern and intensity of mixing in Lake Arrowhead, CA for potential use of recycled water for surface water supply augmentation. tracer study results will be used to calibrate a three-dimensional hydrodynamic computer model that will be used to simulate dilution and assimilation of a hypothetical recycled water influent into Lake Arrowhead under different weather conditions.
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(1) Attachment A - Tracer Study Waiver Request.
(2) Attachment B - Memorandum of Understanding.
(3) Attachment C - UNLV Liability Acceptance.
(4) Attachment D - Bureau of Reclamation Categorical Exclusion.
1992: LACSD UCLA Wastewater Reclamation at Lake Arrowhead, CA - Experimental Pilot Plant.
In 1992, a demonstration pilot plant was constructed in Lake Arrowhead to determine the feasibility of reclaiming municipal secondary effluent for indirect potable reuse and stabilizing the lake level during periods of extended drought. A 12 000-L/d pilot plant was constructed and tested for nearly 3 years. The project was undertaken to explore indirect potable reuse to provide for additional drinking water supplies in Lake Arrowhead. Secondary effluent from the Grass Valley plant was used as the influent to the pilot plant. The entire plant was placed on line in June 1994, and intense data collection proceeded through October 1994. Data collection resumed in March 1995 and proceeded until June 1995, during which period special studies including challenge testing, metals removal analysis, and ozone DBP formation analysis were undertaken.
Presently, there are no regulatory standards in California for surface water discharge when the receiving body of water is a
potable source. The Department of Health Services (DOHS) has historically opposed the discharge of treated wastewaters
into such sources. Recognizing this, it was decided to demonstrate that a pilot-scale reclamation plant could produce water
equal to or better than the quality of water in the lake. It was estimated that Lake Papoose with 1 year of detention time and
Lake Arrowhead with 8 years of detention time would give adequate time for natural treatment of the reclaimed water equivalent or better than present groundwater recharge projects.
December 12, 2023 LACSD Board Meeting Discussing the PFAS Contamination in the Lake Arrowhead Water and the Source.
PFAS UPDATE – LACSD held its December Board meeting and the issue of PFAS contamination was discussed again. LACSD carried out tests on the finished drinking water at the Cedar Glen and Bernina Water Treatment Plants in February, May and August of 2023 and found PFAS contamination in the drinking water. More troubling was the fact that the levels of the specific contaminant (PFOA) which is considered the most harmful contaminant in the PFAS family of contaminants exceeded the Response Level (RL) set by the State Water Resources Control Board where the water supplier is encouraged to terminate the supply of drinking water when the specific limit is reached. Currently the Cedar Glen Water Treatment Plant is offline and the Bernina Water Treatment Plant has tested positive for PFOA at a level of 9.6 PPT and 8.7 PPT. The state recommends a water supplier take the water source offline OR give full notice to the general public when levels reach 10 PPT after four quarters of testing.
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6. Mr. Heyck stated the recycled water is contaminated and that LACSD should not minimize the issue.
13. Director Keefe stated that it sounds like the contamination is coming from the septic tanks.
January 23, 2024 LACSD Board Meeting Discussing the PFAS Contamination in the Lake Arrowhead Water and the Source.
PFAS UPDATE – At its January 23rd Board meeting, LACSD stated that its top priority is cleaning up the drinking water. They have hired two firms that are looking at the problems to come up with a solution. LACSD has two water processing plants (Bernina and Cedar Glen.) The Cedar Glen plant has been shut down and is not expected to be brought back online anytime soon.
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The source of the contamination still eludes LACSD - LACSD has still been searching and the source of the contamination is still undiscovered. LACSD does not want to bias itself and it'll take a good year of testing to come up with an idea. They also discuss capital improvements in the past year and as well as the 6.0 million dollar corporate parking yard. $1.05 million of the cost came from the Water Capital Improvement Plan Fund and $1.95 million of the cost came from the Wastewater Capital Improvement Fund. These funds are traditionally reserved for water/sewer infrastructure improvements. LACSD also warned residents against elicit laundry activity in the creeks and or the Lake and to keep a lookout for the laundry bandits.
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As for the recycled PFAS water irrigating the Golf Course - One homeowner at the beginning of the meeting asked if they plan on irrigating when the season starts in April but that question went unanswered. No one knows if irrigation will commence this year. LACSD doesn't believe the contaminated recycled water poses a threat to surrounding homes, Grass Valley Lake or Lake Arrowhead.
As for the Lake and the fish - LACSD is staying away from the Lake and the fish and doesn't plan on touching it with a 10 foot fishing pole. They are focused, rightly so, on the drinking water and how to make that clean as soon as possible. The PFAS sewer source mystery continues.
1. Matt Brooks (Operations Manager) discussed PFAS sampling in Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding areas.
4. General Manager Cerri stated that the recycled water is very unlikely to be a source of PFAS that's in the Lake.
5. Marilyn Dishell asked about LACSD testing the fish for PFAS and LACSD stated they are not responsible for testing the fish.
9. A homeowner questioned the recycled water usage at the Golf Course and the length of time the contaminated irrigation has been occurring.
10. A homeowner questioned the testing of the sewage lines for leaks. President Wurm stated LACSD has reduced the leaks, Lohantan is very happy with LACSD and there are many sources of PFAS Contamination.
11. General Manager Cerri stated that even though water was getting into the sewer system, it is very unlikely that sewer is getting out.
12. A homeowner asked if President Wurm was on the LACSD Board when an attempt was made to take over AWAC and if he thought that was wise given all the other problems that LACSD was facing and President Wurm responded by refusing to answer the question.
March 27, 2024 LACSD ALA Interface Committee Special Meeting Discussing PFAS contamination in Lake Arrowhead.
PFAS UPDATE – At the March 27th LACSD-ALA Interface Committee Meeting, the topic of PFAS contamination in Lake Arrowhead was discussed. Possible sources of the contamination were covered including boat shrink wrap, sun screen lotion, boat wax, previous ALA dredging work that had occured and the weed herbicide used for weed control. The LACSD board was reminded that Lake Arrowhead is 48,000 acre feet of water and it would take a tremendous amount of sun screen lotion to contaminate all of the lake to the concentrations of PFAS contamination which currently exist. They were encouraged to focus on the sewer as a possible point source of contamination.
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Further discussions took place regarding the main sewer lines surrounding the lake and pre-repair inspection video footage that may show the condition of the sewer pipes prior to the repair work being carried out. Other homeowners discussed the possibility of getting filters from LACSD as well as the effect on property values and real estate transaction notices now that PFAS has been discovered.
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LACSD also reported that the additional filtration needed to capture the PFAS contamination from the drinking water will be installed at the Cedar Glen Water Treatment Plant by 2025 and at the main Bernina Water Treatment Plant by 2026.
1. Mrs. Sherri Sawaya, a concerned homeowner, asked if LACSD could provide filtration systems for the homes.
2. Garin Vartanian asked that LACSD provide pre repair inspection video footage of the sewer pipes surrounding the lake.
3. Mr. Ted Heyck questioned the amount of sewer pipe that has been repaired and replaced since the 2013 State cease and desist order.
4. Mr. Terry O'Brien commented on the effects of the PFAS contamination on real estate values and disclosure requirements.
April 23, 2024 LACSD Board Meeting Discussing the PFAS Contamination in the Lake Arrowhead Water and the Source.
PFAS UPDATE – At the April 23rd LACSD Regular Board Meeting, the topic of PFAS contamination in Lake Arrowhead was discussed. LACSD gave an update on the progress of plans to construct infrastructure that would remove PFAS from the drinking water. LACSD also stated that they would continue to deliver PFAS contaminated recycled water to the Country Club. The LACSD budget also noted a 10 million dollar appropriation for "Recycled Water Process Upgrade" which is served to the County Club. When asked who it went to there was stunned silence. When asked if it was the Country Club since they are THE ONLY Recipient of recycled water there was more silence and denials.
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1. Mr. Mike Blackwood discussed the LACSD Cease and Desist Order.
2. Mr. Matt Brooks discussed the LACSD operations report.
3. Mr. Behn Naraghi asked a question about the recycled water being used.
4. Mr. Matt Brooks discussed the PFAS contamination and gave updates.
5. Mr. Sam Hawkins of Dudek gave an action plan presentation on PFAS remediation.
6. Mr. Ted Heyck questioned the time it would take to complete the PFAS upgrades.
7. Mrs. Marilyn Dishell asked if the delivery of recycled water is an active act or passive act.
8. Mr. Garin Vartanian asked if it is wise to continue irrigating with recycled water.
9. Mr. Ted Heyck asked a question about the progress of the sewer pipe repairs.
10. Director Keefe asked a member of the public how much PFAS bottled water has in it.
14. Mr. Ted Heyck asked a question about the possibility of cleaning the PFAS from the Lake.