Kingman Construction wins $23.6m Santa Ana PFAS treatment contract

Kingman Construction wins $23.6m Santa Ana PFAS treatment contractThe Orange County Water District moves forward with a centralized ion exchange facility at the John Garthe Reservoir, awarding the construction mandate to Kingman Construction Inc. following a competitive bid process.

Kingman Construction Inc. secured the $23.6 million contract, submitting the lowest bid among seven competitors.

The total project budget was increased to $31.5 million to accommodate the full scope of work.

The facility will treat approximately 9,600 gallons per minute using 12 ion exchange vessels.

Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026 with completion expected by July 2028.

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) Board of Directors’ Water Issues Committee has recommended awarding a $23,587,500 contract to Kingman Construction Inc. for the construction of a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment facility for the City of Santa Ana. The item will be placed on the January 21 Board meeting agenda for final approval. The project, located at the John Garthe Reservoir, utilizes a centralized design to treat groundwater from five city wells impacted by PFAS contaminants. District Engineer Ryan Bouley presented the recommendation, noting that Kingman Construction submitted the lowest responsive bid among seven competitors and came in "under the engineers' estimates." The firm has established a track record with the District through previous successful projects, including prior PFAS treatment work. The facility's design features six pairs of ion exchange (IX) vessel systems—12 vessels in total—providing a treatment capacity of approximately 9,600 gallons per minute. Bouley described the project as a "relatively large site with a very high treatment capacity." The scope includes the installation of pre-filtration systems, site piping, well modifications, and an upgraded disinfection area sized to manage the centralized flow. The contract also covers work on a hydro-generator facility, which is funded by a Bureau of Reclamation grant secured by the City of Santa Ana; the city will reimburse OCWD for this portion of the project. To align with the bid results and project requirements, the committee recommended increasing the total project budget by $1.47 million to $31.47 million. Construction is anticipated to commence in March 2026, with a target completion date of July 2028.