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La Verne water plant reports UCMR 5 testing complete; plant says PFAS levels have fallen and remain below EPA limits so far
Summary
Water treatment staff reported completion of UCMR 5 testing and described ongoing sampling and treatment adjustments that have reduced PFAS detections. A recent customer complaint of discolored ("black") water yielded no evidence of system discoloration; staff recommended flushing household water heaters.
Danny, a representative of the La Verne water treatment plant, told the board on June 3 that the plant completed its UCMR 5 testing and additional special sampling as part of ongoing PFAS monitoring. He said treatment changes have lowered measured values and that most numbers "have dropped significantly and stay below the maximum contaminant level that the EPA is requiring or has set forth for us to meet." Danny noted that plant staff have not yet received the formal sanitary survey results but felt positive about the two'day TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation) inspection and follow'up distribution review.
On a separate customer concern about discolored or "black" water, Danny said plant crews visited the address and tested exterior hose bibs, kitchen sinks and bathroom fixtures; staff saw no discoloration during those checks. He advised homeowners that the most common internal cause is a water heater that has not been flushed: "When the water heater issue was brought up, they said it hadn't been done in 6 to 8 years," he said, and that household flushing often resolves such reports.
Board members asked about PFAS removal and regulatory expectations. Danny described the regulatory and technical challenge: "It's not a banned substance... it's very difficult to get rid of something if it's not banned before it comes to us. So EPA has put a lot of stress on the water industry... they're requiring us in the next couple years to remove this from the drinking water to limits that are almost feasibly or almost unrealistic or very much unrealistic, personal opinion, professional opinion," he said. He added that the city currently measures and is required to meet standards at the point the plant leaves the treatment facility, and that evidence of distribution system accumulation is limited.
The water plant representative said the 2025 sanitary survey involved two days at the plant and another day reviewing distribution; staff will publish the 2024 consumer confidence report electronically and provide hard copies at City Hall, the new Public Works building and the plant on request. Danny offered a contact number for mailed hard copies: 61579365366.
Discussion was informational; the board received the report and no formal action was recorded on PFAS or treatment changes during the meeting.
