PFAS Compounds

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Fullerton's Drinking Water Meets State and Federal Drinking Water Standards and Regulations

The drinking water we provide to residents, businesses and schools complies with state and federal drinking water standards.

The City of Fullerton Water Division works closely with the Orange County Water District (OCWD) to continuously monitor the water supply and conducts hundreds of laboratory tests each year throughout Fullerton's service area. Results are published in the annual Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report. If you would like the most recent copy of the Consumer Confidence Report, please contact Water Quality at waterquality@cityoffullerton.com.

About PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals that are used in firefighting activities and a number of industrial processes to make products non-stick and/or resistant to water, oil, and stains.

Dating back to the 1940s, PFAS have been commonly used to coat carpets, clothes, furniture, food packaging, cookware and other products. We’ve all encountered PFAS in our daily lives.

Montage of uses (textiles, cosmetics, cleaning, etc.)

PFAS Advisories

The California Division of Drinking Water (DDW) has established advisories for public water systems to monitor four PFAS constituents: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS).

Results at or above the Notification Level requires water agencies to notify their local government officials when a measure exceeds the Notification Level.

California's Notification Levels are:

5.1 parts per trillion for PFOA
6.5 parts per trillion for PFOS
500 parts per trillion for PFBS
3.0 parts per trillion for PFHxS

If the results are at or above the Response Level, DDW recommends that the water agency provide treatment, implement a blending plan to reduce contaminants, or the the water source out of service.

California's Response Levels are:

10 parts per trillion for PFOA
40 parts per trillion for PFOS
5,000 parts per trillion for PFBS
20 parts per trillion for PFHxS

Parts per million, billion, or trillion are ways to measure tiny amounts of a substance in water or air. It is a microscopic measurement: one part per trillion is the equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

We are closely monitoring for PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and PFHxS in our water, in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

PFAS in Fullerton

Tiny amounts of PFAS are not unique to Fullerton — they are found throughout Orange County among communities served by the region’s groundwater supply. In Orange County, what we are encountering is believed to be remnant traces from consumer products and factories, military bases and other industrial uses all around us in Southern California. These chemicals can make their way into rivers, such as the Santa Ana River, which replenishes much of Orange County’s groundwater.

Our goal is to provide safe drinking water that meets state and federal regulations.

Fullerton’s water is thoroughly treated and tested to ensure it meets some of the highest standards in the world. We’re currently evaluating the use of other water sources as well as new treatment methods to remove PFAS from groundwater.

Our latest PFAS test results can be found here

What Fullerton is doing about PFAS?

In addition to closely monitoring PFAS levels, notifying local government officials of Notification Level exceedances and staying abreast of State and Federal regulations, Fullerton is designing and constructing new PFAS water treatment facilities in partnership with OCWD.

Kimberly Well 1A PFAS Water Treatment Plant

The Kimberly Well 1A PFAS treatment plant was the first PFAS treatment plant constructed in Orange County. The new treatment system consists of bag filters and an ion exchange treatment system that treats around 2,400 gallons per minute. The installation of the ion exchange treatment vessels occured on March 20, 2021 and is shown in the video below. The treatment plant began operation on June 30, 2021.

Main Plant PFAS Water Treatment Plant

A second treatment plant is currently under construction at the Fullerton's main well field. This treatment plant will consist of a granular activated carbon system that will be installed in phases, with the first phase providing treatment to one existing well. Future additions to the treatment plant will provide treatment to other wells at the well field. The first phase is anticipated to be completed at the end of 2023.

Kimberly Well 2 PFAS Water Treatment Plant

Kimberly Well 2 and nearby Sunclipse Well 10 have not exceeded the Response Levels for PFAS; however, the City is proactively starting on design to treat water from those wells. The new treatment system is expected to e ion exchange and treat up to 4,800 gallons per minute.

To learn more about how Orange County Water District is addressing PFAS and for updated information, visit their PFAS Education Center, , for more information. Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the Fullerton Water Quality Specialist at (714) 738-2835 or by email waterquality@cityoffullerton.com.

OCWD News Release-Kimberly PFAS Treatment Facility

On May 6, 2021, the Orange County Water District, in conjunction with the City of Fullerton, coordinated a Community Meeting inviting Anaheim residents in the vicinity of the City of Fullerton's Main Plant (on La Palma in the City of Anaheim) to discuss the design of new PFAS treatment facilities. The presentation provided background on PFAS, PFAS's impact to the City of Fullerton, and the proposed treatment process, layout, and visual impacts to the surrounding community. Links to the recording of the presentation and slide have been provided.