The Chino Basin Desalter Authority (CDA) invites public comment on documents related to the issuance of a Domestic Water Supply Permit Amendment for upgrades to the Chino I Desalter water system to include new source wells and new treatment processes.
CDA’s Chino I Desalter, located in the City of Chino, has been providing up to 12,900 acre-feet per year of highly treated groundwater to area cities and water agencies since 2001, achieving the dual goals of preserving the quantity and quality of the local groundwater basin and providing high quality potable water to the region. In order to enhance desalter operation and remove emerging contaminants from the groundwater supply (primarily trichloroethylene and 1,2,3-trichloropropane), the CDA, in collaboration with the County of San Bernardino, is constructing new granular activated carbon treatment facilities at the existing Desalter to work in conjunction with the existing reverse osmosis and ion exchange treatment processes. The Division of Drinking Water (DDW) is processing the amendment to the existing Domestic Water Supply Permit. Because of the contamination in the wells added as new sources, DDW has designated these wells as “Extremely Impaired Sources” and followed a special permitting process pursuant to its Process Memo 97-005, which includes a public comment period and public meeting.
The draft permit amendment and associated 97-005 technical report are available on the CDA website at www.chinodesalter.org. Hard copies are also available at the CDA office at 3550 E. Philadelphia Street, Suite 170 in the City of Ontario.
Comments on the permit amendment submitted by email or mail must be dated or postmarked no later than February 21, 2023. Comments may be sent:
Via email (preferred method) to: PublicComment@chinodesalter.org Subject Line: Chino I Water System Permit
Via U.S. Mail to: Chino Basin Desalter Authority Attn: Chino I Water System Permit, 3550 E. Philadelphia Street, Suite 170, Ontario, CA 91761
For assistance, questions, or more information, please visit the CDA website at www.chinodesalter.org or email PublicComment@chinodesalter.org.