Industry Insight - City of Tustin - Centralized Treatment Implementation for PFAS

April 15, 2026
Industry Insight

Presentation:

City of Tustin - Centralized Treatment Implementation for PFAS

Presented by:

Mike Chandler

Water Services Manager

City of Tustin

Dave & Busters

Irvine Spectrum

661 Spectrum Center Drive
Sign-In: 11:30 am
Lunch at Noon

Hosted by OCWA

Join us April 15 for an in-depth look at the City of Tustin's Main Street Plant, presented by Mike Chandler, Water Services Manager for the City of Tustin.

The City of Tustin’s Main Street Plant has undergone a major transformation from a legacy nitrate treatment facility into a centralized regional treatment hub designed to address emerging PFAS regulations while maintaining nitrate compliance and distribution reliability. In response to PFAS contaminants within the OC Groundwater Basin and in partnership with Orange County Water District, the City & OCWD designed and constructed a multi-train ion exchange system for PFAS removal, a fully automated nitrate ion exchange system, upgraded existing booster pumping capacity, and converted disinfection from chlorine gas to sodium hypochlorite for enhanced safety and operational resilience.

This technical presentation will walk through the design criteria, hydraulic considerations, monitoring approach, operational lessons learned, and lifecycle considerations associated with centralized treatment in a constrained footprint. Attendees will gain insight into real-world implementation challenges, conservative compliance strategies, and practical operational takeaways applicable to utilities facing similar PFAS and nitrate treatment decisions.

Key topics covered include:

This case study demonstrates how a municipal utility can successfully navigate complex regulatory requirements, multi-agency partnerships, and site constraints to deliver a resilient, future-ready treatment facility. The operational takeaways presented are directly applicable to any water agency facing PFAS or nitrate treatment decisions in today's regulatory environment.

Our April presentation promises to be both informative and immediately applicable to utilities across the region. Make your reservations today!

You won't want to miss this.

Reservations must be made by end-of-day, Tuesday, April 15th
to qualify for the Reservation Rate.

Cancellations received AFTER this date CANNOT be refunded.

About Our Speaker:

Mike Chandler
Water Services Manager, City of Tustin

With over two decades of Municipal Water experience, Mike Chandler began his water journey in 2004 as a temporary laborer and steadily advancing through nearly every operational level of a municipal water utility. His experience spans meter reading, distribution maintenance, groundwater treatment, production operations, supervision, and executive-level management. This progression has provided him with a comprehensive, field-to-leadership understanding of utility operations and the practical challenges faced by frontline staff and management alike. He holds California State Water Resources Control Board Drinking Water Distribution Operator Grade 5 and Water Treatment Operator Grade 3 certifications, reflecting both his technical expertise and commitment to professional advancement.

Throughout his career, Mike has served at the City of Fountain Valley, Irvine Ranch Water District, Jurupa Community Services District, and the City of Tustin, gaining broad experience across distribution systems, groundwater production, advanced treatment implementation, and regulatory compliance. His leadership philosophy is grounded in operational excellence, safety, and mentorship, drawing from over two decades of hands-on industry experience.