LOMITA, Calif. – A $2 million grant will help cut the cost of a new granular activated carbon filtration system for the City of Lomita's Cypress Water Production Facility. The city estimates the project could cost about $4 million to clear up water quality issues like taste and odor that the city has been experiencing at the site, which is currently offline, for years.

“Our residents brought to us their concerns of taste and odor with their water supply and the water that was coming through their taps and this project was specifically designed to meet those needs,” Ryan Smoot, City Manager of Lomita, said.

 

What You Need To Know


  • Lomita received $2 million grant to help bring Cypress Water Production Facility back online

  • Site went offline after residents complained of water's taste and odor

  • Cancer-causing benzene was detected in city's groundwater well

  • City officials hope to bring site back online in next two years

 

But as the city tried to solve one issue, another problem was found. Benzene, a cancer-causing chemical was detected in the city’s only groundwater well, forcing the city to shut down the CWPF site last year and begin importing the city’s water.

“Last year, we did have a detection of benzene and fortunately for us the project we’ve designed also happens to be the industry standard for treatment for removing benzene,” Smoot said.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, granular activated carbon filtration systems are known to be effective in removing contaminants like benzene from the water supply. With all these water quality issues combined, the newly secured $2 million grant from the Water Replenishment District’s Safe Drinking Water program will help upgrade the city’s water filtration system and bring the site back online.

Smoot said the project is only a couple months away from seeking construction bids. 

“Imported water is a significant cost to the city. It’s something we budget for and we prepare for, but, it has been a significant cost. Another reason that we’re so excited for this project is because the more we can produce groundwater the more we can reduce the cost for our residents and keep their water rates low,” Smoot said.

 

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The new filtration system installation could bring the CWPF back online within the next two years.

But until then, the CWPF site remains off-line. Smoot is hopeful that the new filtration system will help residents regain confidence in the city’s local water supply, for years to come.