Held in the gravel, sand, clay, and silt underground, groundwater can be found between 200 and 2000 feet beneath the Santa Clarita Valley and is accessed through wells. Groundwater makes up about 38 percent of the total water supply in California and, in the Santa Clarita Valley, it is half of our water supply during an average year.
Groundwater is local, sustainable and cost-effective. It is an essential and reliable source of our drinking water supply during droughts, when imported State Water Project water supplies may be less available.
SCV Water has submitted a permit amendment application to the California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water to change the status of Well V201 from inactive to active and to add a treatment system that includes an ion exchange system for perchlorate removal, a granular activate carbon system for volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) removal and a chloramination system for Well V201.
A 30-day public comment period is required as part of the permit approval process. The 30-day public comment period is from Friday, November 7, 2025, through 5:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025.
An online public meeting was held during the public comment period on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
View Meeting Webinar Recording
SCV Water Restoring Well V201 To Service Presentation
Department of Drinking Water's Public Hearing: Permit Evaluation of SCV Water’s Well 201
Click on the links below to open the documentation.
DRAFT Well V201 Treatment Facility Engineering Report - November 2025
B - Drinking Water Guideline 97-005 Documentation Report for Well V201
D - Well V201 Treatment Facility Construction Plans
E - Well V201 Treatment Facility Process Flow Diagram
G - Bag Filter Specifications and ANSI/NSF 61 Certification
H - GAC Vessels Specifications and ANSI/NSF 61 Certification
K - Plasite 4100 Vessel Interior Surface Coating Specifications
L - Kennedy Jenks’ Letter re. NSF/ANSI 61 Requirement for Rupture Disk
M - General Rubber Corporation Expansion Joints Specifications and NSF/ANSI 61 Certification
N - IX Resin Specification and NSF/ANSI Certification
*O - Performance Test Results after Initial Media and Resin Loading
Q - Kennedy Jenks’ Letter NSF/ANSI 61 Requirement for Milton Roy Mroy Series A Metering Pump
S - Liquid Ammonium Sulfate NSF/ANSI Certification
T - Hach CL17sc Colorimetric Chlorine Analyzer Specifications
*U - Well V201 Start-up Test Results
*V - Vulnerability Assessment and Monitoring Frequency Guidelines for Source Class Code [TBD]
W - Containment Evaluation for Whittaker-Bermite Contaminant Plume
X - Well V201 Treatment Facility Treatment Classification Worksheet
Z - List of Chemicals that Currently Have Notification Levels Established
*Appendices O, U and V will require collecting samples and lab results, and will be available at a later date for review.
Public comments on the documentation can be emailed to Kevin Strauss (kstrauss@scvwa.org) until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Our groundwater supplies come from two sources within the Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin, which lies directly under the Santa Clarita Valley:
To learn more about the Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin, visit the SCV Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s website.
SCV Water operates a system of 47 wells pumping groundwater into our distribution system to serve our customers. Since 1997, various wells have been shut off due to the detection of certain chemicals; however, an ongoing investment into treatment facilities is restoring this local and affordable water source.
Through a robust Capital Improvement Program, proactive, predictive and preventative maintenance program and a comprehensive Water System Master Plan, SCV Water provides sufficient infrastructure capacity.
Visit the SCV Groundwater Sustainability Agency website to learn more.
Read on to learn about SCV Water’s Groundwater Basin Restoration Program.
SCV Water has been working since 1997 to address groundwater contamination in the Santa Clarita Valley. The Groundwater Basin Restoration Program was developed to restore impacted groundwater supplies to beneficial use for the Valley. In 1997, the initial contaminant of concern was perchlorate, but since has been expanded to include additional contaminants, including VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in 2010, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in 2019.
| Perchlorate | VOCs | PFAS |
|---|---|---|
|
Perchlorate is a component of solid rocket fuel, munitions, fireworks, flares, and other explosive-type materials. |
VOCs encompass a very broad category of chemicals, both human-made and naturally occurring compounds, which can be found in many forms in the environment. |
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of industries worldwide for more than 70 years. |
| These contaminants have been found on the Whittaker-Bermite property which is located near the center of the Santa Clarita Valley and sits within the Saugus Formation Aquifer. | PFAS are found in many everyday products, including nonstick cookware, shampoo, firefighting foam, clothing, and cleaning supplies. They enter the environment through manufacturing, product use, and wastewater discharge. | |
| Learn about SCV Water's Perchlorate and VOC Remediation Efforts | Learn about SCV Water's PFAS Remediation Efforts | |
Contamination removal efforts have been funded by the federal government, state government, SCV Water and its predecessor agencies, as well as proceeds from a Settlement Agreement that stemmed from litigation SCV Water filed against Whittaker Corporation, Whittaker’s insurers, and the site’s landowners.
As an important part of the groundwater remediation process, SCV Water has engaged members of the community in conceptual discussions, milestones, and preliminary planning stages of the Program. Dating back to 1998, the community of Santa Clarita formed a Citizens Advisory Group in accordance with state law, and with the participation and guidance of the California Department of Toxic Substance Control. Since then, many surveys, meetings, interviews, and public hearings have been held. Outreach includes communications to individuals, organizations, government agencies and officials.
More information can be found by visiting our Water Quality Notifications webpage.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, is an environmental law enacted in 1980. It establishes processes for response actions, enforces accountability for potentially responsible parties, and promotes community involvement and long-term protectiveness.
SCV Water’s Groundwater Basin Restoration Program will result in a CERCLA-quality groundwater cleanup that will protect human health and the environment and restore the beneficial use of the Saugus Formation as a natural resource.
More information can be found by visiting our Water Quality Notifications webpage.
SCV Water’s Groundwater Basin Restoration Program is taking an accelerated approach to address the contamination. Much of the work has been completed, but more work still lies ahead. The support and cooperation from the community, local leaders, regulatory agencies and the efforts put forth by SCV Water have led to a comprehensive approach to restore this vital groundwater resource and ensure that SCV Water customers continue to enjoy a safe, affordable, and sustainable source of drinking water.
