Water Works - What is filtered out of our water and what is added?

IN OUR LAST ARTICLE, WE DESCRIBED WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM AND THE PROCESSES THAT GO INTO PROVIDING THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE. We also detailed the $20 million investment SMWD will make over the next 5 years to improve the old and outdated San Juan Capistrano groundwater processing plant the District inherited in 2021. The plant is currently out of service, but once it is up and running again, the SJC groundwater plant will double its previous output of safe, high quality drinking water. That amounts to some 5 million gallons (a little over 15-acre feet) daily!

While our drinking water is imported from the Metropolitan Water District, Metropolitan’s sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, and underground wells - like the ones in SJC. As water travels over the surface of land or through the layers of the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, undesirable elements, including materials from animal and human activity.

So, what exactly is removed from our drinking water through natural treatment?

The list includes:

• Microbial contaminants including viruses and bacteria.

• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, elements from oil and gas production, mining, and farming.

• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that can come from gasoline stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural and septic systems.

• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production or mining activities.

• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.

If reading about all these contaminants that could be in the water make you nervous, don’t be. These contaminants, along with rocks, sand, silt, and other natural occurring elements are removed as we described in our previous article on processing. Also know that rigorous testing--50,000 plus laboratory tests each year are performed to ensure that safe, high-quality drinking water comes from your tap every time you turn it on.

Second question: what is added to our drinking water?

Primarily, your drinking water is treated with fluoride, an aid in the prevention of tooth decay since 1945. Fluoride is added to all drinking water in the US including water from SMWD. California state regulations limit Fluoride levels to under two parts per million (a little over 16 ounces in a 660,000 gallon Olympic-size swimming pool).

“Water” we up to next?

Tap into the conversation and be on the lookout for upcoming articles with more fascinating facts about your water—how it is processed, how it’s delivered to your home, and how water rates are determined.

Proposed Legislation Aims to Modify Superintendent Dismissal Process

BY COLLIN BREAUX

A pending bill in the California State Legislature is looking to change how school boards would go about dismissing a superintendent.

Senate Bill 494, which Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) introduced, would require school boards to provide more than 24 hours of notice if they want to dismiss a public school district official.

A minimum of a 72-hour notice would be required before a public meeting at which a district superintendent and/or assistant superintendent could be terminated without cause, a news release from Newman’s office said.

“SB 494 will ensure greater transparency and accountability in school district governing board proceedings and ensure stability and transparency in school district governance,” Newman said.

The measure comes after the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted last December to terminate the contract of former Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte for unexplained reasons. The termination of Brulte’s contract was said to be without cause.

The Board of Trustees is considering candidates for the superintendent po -

Capo Unified Intends to Address Student Mental Health with WideRanging Wellness Plan

BY COLLIN BREAUX

The Capistrano Unified School District is looking to spend approximately $1 million on a multi-tiered plan to handle student mental health and well-being.

The CUSD Cares plan that district staff introduced intends to “positively impact” students by enhancing their sense of connection, school communities, and opportunities for celebration, a staff report said.

The CUSD Board of Trustees unanimously approved moving forward with the plan on May 17.

The various tiers for CUSD Cares include providing services for student sition and expects that person to begin their role this July.

Newly elected trustees Michael Parham and Gary Davis, who won last November’s races for the respective Area 2 and 4 seats on the board, were among the four trustees who voted to end Brulte’s role as superintendent.

If enacted, SB 494 would prohibit school boards from taking action to terminate a superintendent or assis - well-being and instruction and support for all students, as well as more specific help for students who require more care and interventions.

Specific strategies for all students will include daily mindfulness moments in the classroom, weekly check-ins when it comes to well-being, kindness campaigns in elementary schools, and attendance campaigns emphasizing a “you belong here” message.

As for students who need more help, CUSD will provide wellness rooms in the secondary schools, sensory rooms in elementary schools, and counseling from the Wellness and Prevention Center at specific school sites.

Statistics cited by staff during a presentation at the May 17 meeting showed 36% of seventh-, ninth-, and 11th-graders in CUSD reported feeling chronic sadness and hopelessness. Of those grade levels, 19% of students seriously considered attempting suicide.

“There is significant and disturbing data at the national, state, and local levels, and in our own district, that students are struggling, that their well-be - tant superintendent within 30 days after first convening following a board election. ing must be addressed,” said Gregory Merwin, associate superintendent of Education and Support Services.

Newman’s office mentioned circumstances similar to CUSD that occurred in the Orange Unified School District, where its board called a special meeting with 24 hours’ notice over the past winter break to dismiss the district’s superintendent and assistant superintendent.

CUSD Cares is not an entirely new concept and builds upon existing work within the district, focusing on student wellness, Merwin said.

“In our county, a sizeable percentage of emergency room visits encompasses the age group of our secondary students,” said Refugio Gracian, executive director of Cultural Proficiency, Equity, Access and Social Emotional Learning. “Sixty percent of ER visits are for suicidal ideation, and intentional self-harm makes up 40% of ER visits.”

CUSD Cares will also incorporate staff well-being with support services and other programs.

Some parts of the program will be implemented immediately, while other parts and the overall scope will be rolled out over the coming years. The steps outlined were based on surveys CUSD conducted with students, staff, Parent Teacher Student Association presidents, and district management in November 2022.

“Similar scenarios are being reported throughout the state, with many instances of sudden district leadership changes appearing politically motivated, resulting in avoidable levels of contention, distrust, and disruption in affected school communities,” the release from Newman’s office said.

The State Senate approved the bill on May 15. SB 494 must next be considered by the State Assembly to move forward.

Trustee Judy Bullockus said she had wanted to incorporate the program for a long time.

“You, of course, have my vote,” Bullockus said. “This is something that can’t happen fast enough.”

Trustee Gila Jones expressed concern about students who express suicidal thoughts and don’t receive immediate assistance.

Trustee Amy Hanacek said parents need to be “allies, not opponents,” as CUSD Cares rolls out, and may realize their children were undergoing crises they previously didn’t know about.

“I support this wholeheartedly,” Hanacek said. “I’ve never been prouder or (more) anxious, because once we get to this, there’s expectations. We are going to have to temper those expectations.”

CUSD Cares can be an “ongoing work in progress” in which staff are welcome to tweak details and check in with trustees on how the implementation is going, Hanacek said.

“I do think this will be our culture,” Hanacek said.