Fontana Herald News - New Water Treatment Plant is Unveiled in Fontana; Water Company Gets Rid of Dangerous Chemical Perchlorate Without Raising Fees for Customers

News Article

By Alejandro Cano

Thanks to a resin-based filtration system, the Fontana Water Company is providing clean water, free of the dangerous chemical perchlorate, to thousands of local homes.

This service is made possible with the help of a new water treatment plant that was unveiled on Aug. 16 by federal, state, and municipal authorities during a brief opening ceremony at the site in Fontana.

"It only takes minutes for the water to go from 5 parts per billion (ppb) of perchlorate to zero ppb. This plant will clean about four million gallons of drinking water every day for the benefit of at least 48,000 homes in the area," said Robert Young, general manager of the Fontana Water Company.

The best part is that customers will not see any additional fee increase in their bills, added Josh Swift, assistant general manager.

That is possible because the treatment plant that houses the well, called F23, was built with the majority with funds from the Department of Defense through the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program.

"This new perchlorate treatment facility in Fontana is a great example of how local needs and federal resources can be matched to solve problems," said Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino). "All branches of industry need water to grow. This plant will help us grow as a region. It will also help people stay free of dangerous chemicals."

Over the past several years, contamination with perchlorate (which is used in the manufacture of explosives and fertilizers) closed 13 wells in Fontana, causing a loss of 32 million gallons of water a day.

Thanks to help from all levels of government, some wells have been restored with the right filtration equipment to reduce perchlorate to zero ppb.

Perchlorate is a chemical that when consumed in large quantities and for a long period of time can affect reproduction and fetal development. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when perchlorate enters the body it can block the thyroid from iodine uptake.

The gland needs iodine to produce hormones that regulate how the body uses energy. This may in turn lead to hypothyroidism, which if not treated properly and early, can cause physical and mental disabilities.

The Fontana plant is just one of several plants required in the Inland Empire region to combat perchlorate pollution. The plant is comprised of Well F23, which can pump 2,800 gallons per minute, two pairs of ion exchange vessels with pre-filters, one granular activated carbon vessel, two 500,000 gallon reservoirs, a booster station and a well discharge pit, said water officials.

Both reservoirs total one million gallons of storage capacity. The two reservoirs allow the company to continue service with one when the other is off line for maintenance or other reasons. They also give the company the ability and flexibility to store water when electric rates are low, which in turn will reduce the cost for customers, officials said.

The booster station is required to distribute water to customers throughout the Fontana system. The boosters are capable of pumping 7,250 gallons per minute.

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