Elsinore Valley Water District Gets $780K In Federal Relief Funds

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Rep. Ken Calvert has secured over $750,000 in Federal Relief Funds for the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plan pilot project, the district announced Tuesday. The pilot project will help the water district determine upgrades needed to the plant offline until the district can make upgrades to restore water quality to the valuable local water source.

The Canyon Lake water is affected by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, according to the district. Those "man-made chemicals" used in industry worldwide are found in shampoo, clothing, cleaning products, firefighting foam, and even non-stick cookware, according to reports from the district. Over time [the chemicals] have entered the waterways through manufacturing, landfills and wastewater, according to the district.

Though the district did not "put the chemicals in the water," according to a statement they released, it is their job to see that they do not remain in the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District's water supply.

The new funding and the pilot project will help ensure residents have clean water for years to come.

The district's General Manager Greg Thomas says community is "dedicated to implementing projects that meet our community’s water needs for years to come, and we look forward to continued partnerships to make these projects a reality."

The funds are part of the Community Project Funding portion of the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations act recently district'sPresident Joe Biden.

Darcy M. Burke, President of the district's Board of Directors, spoke on the funding.

"Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District deeply appreciates Congressman Calvert’s partnership and his ongoing commitment to public health and safety. With the Congressman’s leadership, this partnership secured $780,000 for the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plan pilot project, allowing advanced treatment testing of a critical local water source," said Darcy M. Burke, President, EVMWD Board of Directors. "Congressman Calvert’s leadership will offset direct costs as we determine appropriate treatment plant upgrades. This pilot study ultimately determines this project’s success."