The WQA was created and authorized by the State Legislature to address the critical need for coordinated and accelerated groundwater cleanup programs in the Basin.

The WQA is committed:

1. to protecting public health and safety;
2. to prioritizing, facilitating, and coordinating groundwater cleanup/supply programs with local water providers and/or USEPA; and
3. to minimizing local financial and economic impacts, including impacts on local groundwater consumers.

The WQA recognizes that groundwater contamination issues in the Basin are complex and that the USEPA Superfund response alone may not adequately address the environmental, regulatory and financial issues that affect the one million residents and the many thousands of businesses who rely primarily on the Basin for potable water.

In addition, the WQA recognizes the critical nature of developing strategies that ensure the Basin’s long-term reliability while reducing our reliance on imported water and enhancing the Basin’s potential to meet regional strategic groundwater storage demands.

In order to effectively coordinate the local water supply needs with cleanup, containment, reliability and storage goals, the WQA will promote and participate in technical, financial and regional partnerships, including partnerships with responsible parties, wherever possible. Where partnerships with responsible parties cannot be voluntarily formed, WQA will seek ways to move forward and implement the necessary groundwater cleanup projects and will consider all options to require financial participation from those responsible for the contamination.