HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 20 - Grant Application for Well 38 Water Treatment Project Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pw
Item # 20
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
November 2, 2021
TOPIC: Grant Application for Well 38 Water Treatment Project
AGENDA TITLE
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing a Grant Application Submission for the Bureau of
Reclamation WaterSMART Drought Response Program for the Well 38 Water Treatment
Project
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Executive Director of the Public Works Agency to
submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation,
Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow Drought Response Program
Grant for the Well 38 Water Treatment Project, in an amount of up to $2,000,000.
DISCUSSION
The majority of the City of Santa Ana’s potable water comes from the Orange County
Groundwater Basin (OC Basin) and is pumped through 20 existing City wells. Due to the
presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in routine well monitoring,
several wells in the OC Basin have been taken offline, including the City’s Well 38. Given
the limited water supplies in the region and recent recurring drought conditions, removing
wells from the City’s potable water distribution system will reduce its reliability. This action
will also increase the burden on other City water production facilities and the reliance on
imported water sources.
The City is currently in the preliminary design phase of a PFAS treatment facility for Well
38 that will effectively remove PFAS contamination from the water before it is introduced
into the distribution system. The United States Department of the Interior offers financial
assistance in the form of grant funding through its Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART
(Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Drought Response Program
for this type of project. The program provides two levels of funding and up to a maximum
of $2,000,000 in grant funding, but not to exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. If
the grant application (Exhibit 1) is successful, the grant funding would offset up to
$2,000,000 of the estimated $5,300,000 total project cost. The resolution (Exhibit 2)
authorizes staff to submit the application.
Adopt Resolution for BOR WaterSMART Grant
November 2, 2021
Page 2
2
1
8
9
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Staff will return to Council with a
request for approval of further actions and will indicate the fiscal impact of any such
awards and associated expenditures at that time.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Grant Application (https://www.santa-
ana.org/sites/default/files/pw/documents/Grant_Application_Exh_1_Well_38_Wat
er_Treatment_Project_October_5_2021.pdf)
2. Resolution Authorizing Grant Application for Well 38 Water Treatment Project
Submitted By: Nabil Saba, Executive Dir Public Works
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 1 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT
FUNDING FROM THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION’S
WATERSMART DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAM FOR
THE WELL 38 WATER TREATMENT PROJECT
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines
and declares as follows:
A. The City’s potable water comes from an underground basin and is pumped
through 21 existing wells.
B. The region’s water supply is limited due to drought conditions.
C. The City relies on groundwater pumped from the Orange County Water Basin
to satisfy the majority of its potable water needs.
D. Well 38 has been taken offline due to the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) found in routine well monitoring.
E. The Well 38 Water Treatment Project will install PFAS treatment to bring Well
38 back online for potable water distribution.
F. The United States Department of the Interior offers financial assistance in the
form of grant funding through its Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART (Sustain and
Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Drought Response Program for this type of
project. The program provides two levels of funding and up to a maximum of $2,000,000
in grant funding, but not to exceed 50% of the total project cost.
G. The City desires to fund part of the cost of the Well 38 Wellhead Treatment
Project with grant funding from the WaterSMART Drought Response Program.
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby authorizes and
directs the Executive Director of Public Works, or his or her designee, to sign and submit,
for and on behalf of the City of Santa Ana, a grant application from the Bureau of
Reclamation’s WaterSMART Drought Response Program for the Well 38 W ater Treatment
Project up to the amount of $2,000,000.
Section 3. The Executive Director of Public Works, or his or her designee, is
designated to provide the assurances, certifications, and commitments required for the
grant application, including executing a financial assistance or similar agreement with the
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 2 of 3
Bureau of Reclamation within established deadlines and any amendments or changes
thereto.
Section 4. The Executive Director of Public Works, or his or her designee, is
designated to represent the City of Santa Ana in carrying out the City’s responsibilities
under the grant agreement, including certifying disbursement requests on behalf of the City
and compliance with applicable state and federal laws.
Section 5. If a grant award is made by the Bureau of Reclamation, the City of
Santa Ana commits to providing up to $2,000,000 in matching funds for the Well 38 Water
Treatment Project plus any remaining balance.
Section 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this
Resolution.
ADOPTED this ____ day of ___________________, 2021.
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:
John M. Funk
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 3 of 3
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify the attached Resolution No.
2021 -_____ to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa
Ana on _____________________, 2021.
Date:
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana