The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCV Water) has announced that they are set to voluntarily shut down 13 additional wells in compliance with new state PFAS regulations, officials said Friday.

The levels of PFAS found are above the state-mandated response level, according to Kathie Martin, public information officer for Santa Clarita Valley Water.

“We promised early on in the process that if we exceed those levels we’ll shut down,” Martin said. “SCV Water has taken proactive steps to protect public health by voluntarily removing 13 of its groundwater wells from service.”

Last year SCV Water closed one well after testing showed levels of PFAS above the response level set by the state. Today they announced that 13 more wells will be closed after the State Water Resource Control Board adopted new standards for PFAS levels, according to Martin.

“This move follows the State Water Resource Control Board decision to lower its response level guidelines for two chemicals found in low concentrations in drinking water across the state,” Martin said. “Voluntary quarterly sampling of all active wells was done in February, and this action is based on those results.”

PFAS are perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctanesulfonic acids. They are man-made chemicals that are used in many industrial applications and over time have found their way into drinking water reservoirs across the country, according to state water officials.

“Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time,” according to the EPA. “There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.”

Last month the State Water Resources Control Board lowered the acceptable levels of PFAS in drinking water. SCV Water reports that the levels found in their water supplies are lower than the previous levels but above the new levels.

SCV Water has been shutting down wells based on the results of quarterly testing so the water supplies can be cleaned and any contamination removed.

See Related: SCV Water To Remove Wells From Service Following State PFAS Guideline Changes

The agency is also constructing a new water treatment facility that is estimated to be completed in June. Officials say there will not be any shortage of clean drinking water in Santa Clarita.

“Fortunately we have a really resilient water portfolio,” Martin said. “We have imported water from the state water project, as well as banked water with Kern County. When our new facility comes online in June, it will restore about 30 percent of the water lost from closing these wells. So we should be in good shape before the warm summer season starts.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.