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This paper discusses theefforts and required steps of Castaic Lake Water Agency (Agency) to return contaminated wellsto service to meet the demands of growing populations and to provide needed supplies duringdry years.In 1997, ammonium perchlorate was discovered in four Saugus aquifer wells, operated byCastaic Lake Water Agency member agencies, near the former Whittaker-Bermite facility. As aconsequence, these wells were shut down. Since that time, one additional well, in the Alluviumaquifer, has been shut down. Groundwater from the aquifers is an important, long-term waterresource for the Santa Clarita Valley. When returned to service, the wells will provide anadditional 4 mgd of supply.Returning wells contaminated with perchlorate, as well as nitrate and a variety of volatile organic chemicals (VOC), toservice is essential to water resources not only in California, but in other states as well.Perchlorate has been detected in approximately 400 public water system wells in California.Additionally, perchlorate is present in the Colorado River as a result of an ongoing release froma former manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada, outside of Las Vegas.This paper looks at the treatment processes considered by the Agency and outlines the efforts ofCastaic Lake Water Agency and its member agencies to return several contaminated wells toservice.The mechanism through which extremely impaired sources may be used as a drinking watersource is outlined in California Department of Health Services (DHS) Policy Memorandum 97-005. As part of the plan to bring the wells into service, Castaic Lake Water Agency contractedwith Black incorporate the ongoing work by other firms; and, provide theoverall coordination required to achieve acceptance of the DHS Policy Memorandum 97-005Engineers Report.Permitting a contaminated supply requires extensive evaluation as well as health risk assessmentsto protect public health. The paper reviews the steps for process selection as well as thestudies, assessments and public involvement required to bring these sources back to production. Includes 17 references, tables, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 06/17/2004 Number of Pages: 13File Size: 1 file , 490 KB