County : Stringfellow Water Begins Flow Into Sewers

Without fanfare or apparent objection, treated water from the Stringfellow acid pits began flowing into Orange County’s sewer system Friday, under the watchful eyes of water and sanitation inspectors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave final approval Friday afternoon for the start-up of a treatment plant at the former industrial waste site in Riverside County.

“We accepted the results of their tests and signed the permit at five minutes till noon,” J. Andrew Schlange said. He is general manager of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, which represents five water districts in San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties.

“The (treated) water is flowing, and we have delivered 24,000 gallons as of right now,” Schlange said late Friday.

Officials for the regional authority and the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County all gave final approval after tests showed no detectable levels of toxic compounds in the treated water.

Toxic water has been pumped from ground water beneath the acid pits and downstream since 1983 to halt the spread of contaminants threatening domestic water supplies of 40,000 area residents.

Beginning Friday, the plant is expected to treat and discharge from 20,000 to 40,000 gallons daily. Officials said inspectors will monitor the effluent daily to ensure it is treated to near-drinking-water standards.