Sweetwater Authority reports PFAS detections; trustees press for mitigation steps for Chula Vista schools

Sweetwater Authority staff told the Chula Vista Elementary School District board that routine monitoring has detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water tied to the Sweetwater Reservoir and that the findings require public notices and more frequent testing while state and federal regulations take effect.

Roberto Llanos, assistant general manager for Sweetwater Authority, and Justin Bressil, director of water quality, briefed the board on the agency''s testing program and on steps under way to understand and, eventually, treat PFAS in the system. Llanos said Sweetwater''s first round of monitoring in late 2024 found one PFAS (PFOA) at 9.4 parts per trillion (ppt), above California''s notification level; a subsequent quarter showed PFOA at 11.4 ppt, briefly exceeding the state''s response level before a confirming sample fell below that threshold. Sweetwater also detected PFOS in both quarters at levels above the state''s notification threshold, the presenters said.

The board and public speakers raised concerns about health risks and timing. A local resident who identified herself as Karen, a professional engineer living in the district, said PFAS exposure is a major public-health issue and urged the agency and district to act quickly. Trustee Ram''rez Dom''nguez, Vice President Tamayo and other trustees asked Sweetwater staff whether short-term actions such as point-of-use or building-entry filtration for schools could be deployed while longer-term fixes are planned.

Bressil said the agency is conducting four quarters of initial monitoring under the new federal and state schedules and that the agency began early monitoring in 2024 so it can move faster toward potential treatment options. He said the new federal rule sets a very low level (4 ppt) for some PFAS and that utilities nationwide are still determining the most cost-effective long-term solutions; Sweetwater has begun discussions with state and federal legislators about funding assistance for expensive treatment systems. He said Sweetwater''s groundwater sources tested non-detect for PFAS, while some surface-water-derived supplies appear more affected.

Board members and staff urged immediate mitigation inside campuses. Superintendent Aurelio Reyes (identified in the meeting as Dr. Reyes) said the district is exploring interim options such as certified point-of-use filters or commercial-grade filtration at school water inlets, and is coordinating with Sweetwater on next steps. Sweetwater staff said their public outreach will continue, noting the authority had posted its 2023 Consumer Confidence Report and was preparing the 2024 report for publication in July, along with public workshops and online resources.

Sweetwater staff described extensive community outreach: seven workshops across the service area, a hotline and a dedicated web page that includes monitoring results and guidance on NSF-certified filters. They repeated that the federal and state regulatory timelines allow time for utilities to understand monitoring results and to finance treatment; the federal rule will be enforceable by 2029, Sweetwater said.

Board members pressed Sweetwater on three practical points: (1) whether the agency can provide school-by-school source breakdowns so the district can prioritize mitigation at campuses that rely heavily on reservoir-derived water; (2) whether the agency will supply or help fund certified filters while long-term treatment is planned; and (3) whether Sweetwater can accelerate monitoring and confirmatory sampling at sites that serve schools. Sweetwater said it will continue quarterly monitoring for 2025 and will share data and workshop schedules with the district.

The board did not take a formal vote on funding or district-wide mitigation at the meeting; trustees instead directed staff to continue discussions with Sweetwater and to return with options for short-term filtration and for longer-term, capital-cost treatments that could require outside funding.

The presentation drew sustained public comment from residents and trustees, who emphasized the district''s responsibility to protect students and staff while regulatory and financing solutions are developed.