District briefs board on water quality, filtration and maintenance as trustees seek fountain inspection details

District maintenance staff provided an update on water quality, PFAS testing and the district’s drinking‑fountain filtration program.

The presenter explained that Pico Rivera residents receive water either from the Pico Rivera Water Authority or the Pico Water District and that state and federal regulations (U.S. EPA and the State Water Resources Control Board) set testing and reporting standards for PFAS and other contaminants. The district installed point‑of‑use filters on drinking fountains, bottle fillers, kitchen faucets and classroom sinks beginning in 2019 and is actively monitoring filtration systems and replacement schedules.

Trustees raised questions focusing on the point between the meter and the fountain: how often custodial staff clean fountains, where and how filter status is tracked, and how often cartridges are replaced. The presenter said custodial staff clean faucets daily, that the maintenance and operations department maintains a database listing each filter location and replacement schedule, and that custodial staff carry spare cartridges at sites for proactive replacement when filter performance indicators show clogging.

"We do have a database that is located at the M&O department where we're monitoring where our filters are at each school site, where they're located, how long that they've been used for," the presenter said. The presenter also noted that manufacturers’ guidance varies by gallons used and that the district replaces cartridges according to those specifications and usage patterns.

Trustees thanked staff for the proactive work and asked for assurance that filter replacement and custodial checklists are up to date; staff affirmed routine monitoring and the availability of replacement cartridges at sites. No formal board action was taken; the board asked staff to continue reporting on water quality and filtration maintenance.