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El Toro Groundwater Remediation Facility

IRWD’s role in cleaning up the TCE plume

IRWD, the Orange County Water District and the United States Department of the Navy began the El Toro Groundwater Remediation Project in 2007.

Trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, is a volatile organic compound (VOC).

A one-by-three mile plume of contamination extends off the El Toro base.

1.3 billion gallons of clean water for non-drinking water purposes is provided by this project.

The cleanup is expected to take approximately 40 years.

Cleaning up the groundwater

The El Toro Groundwater Remediation Project began full operation in January 2007 and pumps water from the plume of TCE contamination. Following treatment to remove the TCE, this water is used only for non-drinking purposes. Each year the project provides 1.3 billion gallons of clean water for non-drinking water purposes, which is enough to irrigate 1,300 acres of landscaping. The cleanup is expected to take approximately 40 years.

Learn more

El Toro Remediation Map

State Certified Lab Report

Dept. of Navy Fact Sheet

IRWD and City of Irvine Letter to the Community

Irvine City Council – IDP Non Potable Component

EPA Letter

Frequently Asked Questions

Gain a holistic view of your impact with the Impact Overview report. See the total estimated outcomes your employees have supported and identify key trends and insights across your impact areas.
As a result of these past disposal practices, a one-by-three mile plume of contamination now extends off the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The contamination is about 150 feet deep beneath the base and 300-700 feet deep in the community area.
Yes. We continuously monitor the quality of water from its drinking sources. We regularly test our 18 drinking water wells located in Santa Ana, and have never detected TCE in drinking water served to its customers. There are no drinking water wells located in the TCE plume emanating from the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Further, in March 2009, the U.S. EPA determined no “potential vapor intrusion problems” exist in Irvine neighborhoods.