drinking water
30% of Simi Valley Residents use Golden State Water Company’s “mixed well water blend.”
Water Study Quotes
“Golden State Water Company operates two municipal drinking water wells (Niles Well and Sycamore Well) that are located between a three to four mile radius to the northwest of the SSFL site. The groundwater is blended [to meet California maximum contamination limits] at the Niles Blending Station with the Calleguas Municipal Water District… Although TCE has not been detected in the Golden State Water Company municipal drinking water supply, the above population may be subjected to potential future contamination from the SSFL site… “
“… Groundwater samples obtained from the aforementioned [Golden State Water] wells, perchlorate, and trichloroethylene (TCE), with concentrations of less than the Maximum Contaminant Limit and Detection Limit but equal to or greater than “trigger” levels, have been reported to the California Department of Health Services files.”
“…It is apparent that hazardous waste constituents have migrated from the unlined pond at the Sodium Disposal Facility… and Chatsworth Formation groundwater system… migration is likely to continue…. early evaluation and evidence of groundwater contamination beneath the SSFL site suggest that there is a high likelihood that migration of contaminants, from leaky surface impoundments, has contributed to groundwater contamination.”
Potential for Offsite Exposures Associated with SSFL: Chapter 4: Water, page 64
Is my drinking water safe?
Your drinking water meets the legal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations that are meant to keep drinking water safe. However, the Act only regulates 90 contaminants, and the SSFL has 350 known contaminants. Drinking water sources near the SSFL may not be tested for these additional contaminants.
Simi Valley’s Golden State Water
30% of Simi Valley residents (approximately 45,000 people) drink partial well water from Golden State Water Company. The two Golden State Water source wells (Niles and Sycamore Wells) are downhill and less than four miles from the Santa Susana Field Lab.
The well water is so heavily contaminated with perchlorate (a toxic chemical) that the well water must be mixed with imported water to meet California's maximum contamination limit (MCL) for perchlorate. However, Golden State Water can serve water that is just below the MCL and can consider it a “non-detect.”
After a meeting with Golden State Water in 2018, we were told that they have tested for tritium (radioactive water) twice in the last twelve years, even though tritium is a well-known contaminant from the SSFL.
We have learned that Golden State Water uses 10-67% well water at any time.
What we don’t know:
Has Golden State Water again for tritium?
What is keeping Golden State Water from testing for tritium regularly?
When does Golden State Water use 10% well water, and when does it use more?
How often does Golden State Water test for contamination after blending their water? Do they test when they use the least well water or the most?