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Central Valley groundwater pollution

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Aerial view of Central Valley waterways.

Contaminated groundwater in the Central Valley of California is a growing problem due to contamination and overuse.[1] This problem is compounded by the overdrafting of underground aquifers.[1]

nitrates are the most abundant pollutants in the Central Valley due to the copious amounts of agricultural runoff from the farms.[2] The concentration of naturally occurring arsenic is also an issue.[3] Manganese has been detected at concerning levels, posing health risks especially to young children and pregnant women due to its neurotoxic effects.[4] This is a public health concern as groundwater is often the primary water source in the region.[1]

Near-term solutions to reduce pollution and overuse are often costly and hard to implement in a timely manner.[5]

Background

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At the heart of this industry lies the Central Valley, a vital agricultural hub for the state and country. Consisting of both the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento Valley, the Central Valley has an estimated two-thirds of the state's cropland with 7 million acres.[6] California is also the leading dairy producer in the country, with 1.8 million mature cows in the Central Valley contributing to 80% of California's dairies.[7][8] Water quantity and quality have been a leading concern in this crucial high-output agricultural region that often suffers from drought.

History

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Map of the Central Valley region of California.

Groundwater has been pumped in the valley since 1850, when residents began to build pumps to help make up for the lack of surface water in the area.[2] At the turn of the 20th century, California became as a leading agricultural producer due to its technological advances in land management, irrigation and machinery. The Central Valley had ideal economic and climate conditions for many crops and drew in wealthy landowners.

Aquifers are critical because groundwater supplies much of the water needed for agricultural purposes and serves as the only source of water for several communities throughout the valley.[9] However, reciprocal rainfall is not always available to recharge the aquifers, and recent years have seen an increase in drying wells. This overdraft of groundwater causes numerous problems for farmers and is only made worse by climate change.[2] Throughout the early 1900s, technology for waste management did not advance at the same speed as the growth in agriculture.[10] Issues in groundwater contamination by nitrates come from 50 years of unregulated management of livestock waste disposal, septic systems and commercial fertilizers. With manganese now also emerging as a concern, studies have shown that elevated levels of manganese in water supplies can lead to cognitive and neurological developmental issues, with fetuses and young children being especially vulnerable.[4][11]The California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 was the first to specify how to manage groundwater in a way that would not harm or endanger future access to clean groundwater.[2]

Before this act, no regulations governed groundwater management other than the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. These acts do not totally protect Central Valley residents. Consistent monitoring didn't begin until the 1950s, with only 13,000 tests completed in the 1980s compared to the over 133,329 tests in the Central Valley region conducted by the California Spatio Temporal Information on Nitrate in Groundwater (CASTING) database.[12] With advances in testing and research, organizations and residents of the Central Valley have increased efforts to reduce the impact of nitrate water pollution, expected to drastically increase in the next couple decades.[13]

Regulations and standards

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Set by the California Department of Public Health in 1989, the maximum contaminant level for nitrates, in CCR §63341, is 45 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for nitrate as NO3 (equivalent to 10 mg/L for nitrate as nitrogen or “N”); 10 mg/L for nitrate plus nitrite as N; and 1 mg/L for nitrite as N. Currently, there is a secondary maximum contaminant level (MCL) for manganese, primarily based on aesthetic properties like taste and color, set at 0.05mg/L. [11]However, health experts have raised concerns that manganese levels below this threshold could still pose risks, especially for neurodevelopment in children.[4][14] Public wells are required to test their water annually and submit the results to the Department of Health, but private wells are not required to do so. A documented 98% of the state has access to drinkable water, though some studies note that access disparities exist.[15]

Despite modern data and methods for agricultural safety, 92 water systems in the Central Valley were attached to wells containing illegal levels of nitrates between 2005 and 2008, impacting the 1,335,000 residents in the area.[15] Historically, programs to identify and address the impact nitrates have on communities and industries have run at around $1 million each.[16] Meanwhile, research has identified manganese contamination in many water supplies, prompting local advocates to push for improved monitoring and regulatory limits tailored to manganese's neurotoxic effects.[4]

The Californian Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 was the first of its kind to specify how to manage groundwater in a way that would not harm or endanger future generations' access to clean groundwater.[1] Signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2014, this three-bill legislative package created a framework for preserving and managing groundwater at the local and state level. This creates a regulatory process mandating that Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to adopt Ground Water Sustainability Plans (GSPs) to manage supply. Before this act, regulations existed only at the federal level with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, which failed to protect Central Valley residents. Based on these laws, farms and oil drilling sites could not dump waste into the ground if it impacted clean drinking water;[citation needed] however, if the water was not suitable to drink, consumers and businesses could dump waste freely into the water, limiting access to drinking water by further contaminating sources already deemed undrinkable.[12]

Sources of nitrogen

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Manure, fertilizer, and septic waste are the leading sources of nitrates in groundwater. Manure produces around 6.5 million tons of nitrogen, which, when not handled properly or with improper drainage methods, can contaminate soil and water sources.[17] Nitrogen-based soil compounds produced by crops such as legumes, are consistently a minimal source.[18] Fertilizers add roughly 11.5 million tons of nitrogen annually in the United States. Nitrogen in fertilizers is converted to nitrates, which is the main form of nitrogen in wastewater. Nitrogen from fertilizers can also be released into the atmosphere as ammonia gas, commonly recognized as a greenhouse gas. In the U.S. 53% of nitrates originate from fertilizers, making this a priority for Californian officials.[19]

Sources of Magnesium

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Manganese contamination can result from both natural geological processes and human activities such as industrial and agricultural runoff.[20][21][22]  Elevated manganese in soil and water often correlates with agricultural zones due to natural weathering of manganese-containing minerals and contamination from fertilizers. Given manganese's potential risks, officials and health agencies are now advocating for enhanced filtration methods in affected communities.

Population impact

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Several studies have examined the potential impacts of nitrogen-based wastes, such as nitrates on human health. Some studies suggest that exposure to such wastes is correlated to an increased risk of cancer. The exposure period appears to be a contributing factor in increased risk consistent through all of the studies.[23][24] In cases where the incidence of cancer was found to be significantly higher, the exposure period was at least five years, and in some cases up to ten years.

Women who consume water with nitrates over 5 mg/L are at a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.[25] This 5 mg/L level is 5 mg below the federally accepted limit. When consumed, nitrate can compete with iodine in the body to be taken up by the thyroid. When the thyroid intakes nitrogen instead of iodine, its function may be impaired.[26] Only five years of this exposure significantly increases the risk of thyroid cancer. A higher risk of colon and rectal cancer also accompanies water consumption with nitrate levels above 5 mg/L. Exposure for 10+ years is associated with increased colon cancer risk in susceptible populations.[27] Factors such as limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables and insufficient vitamin C intake could further contribute to colorectal cancer risks.

Drinking water and consuming dietary sources of nitrates/nitrites are speculated to cause increased cancer risks when the nitrate compounds react with amines and amides to form carcinogens. The exact process of how this happens is still being researched.[28]

Manganese contamination has been linked to neurological damage in children exposed to concentrations higher than 0.1 mg/L.[4] Exposure to manganese-contaminated water during critical developmental periods can hinder cognitive development, with studies suggesting significant long-term impacts on memory, attention, and overall learning ability.[22][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Harter, Thomas (July 2015). "California's agricultural regions gear up to actively manage groundwater use and protection". California Agriculture. 69 (3): 193–201. doi:10.3733/ca.e.v069n03p193. ISSN 0008-0845.
  2. ^ a b c d "Groundwater Nitrate Sources and Contamination in the Central Valley". California WaterBlog. September 18, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Alexander, Kurtis (June 5, 2018). "Overpumping of Central Valley groundwater has side effect: too much arsenic". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Manganese in Central Valley water threatens fetuses and children | UCR News | UC Riverside". news.ucr.edu. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  5. ^ US EPA, OAR (September 11, 2015). "What You Can Do to Reduce Pollution from Vehicles and Engines". www.epa.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "California Agriculture". California Agriculture. 50 (1): 2. January 1996. doi:10.3733/ca.v050n01p2 (inactive December 9, 2024). ISSN 0008-0845.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2024 (link)
  7. ^ Idaikkadar, N.M. (1979), "Agricultural Production – Livestock and Livestock Products", Agricultural Statistics, Elsevier, pp. 53–68, doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-023388-8.50012-4, ISBN 9780080233888
  8. ^ Shrestha, Anil; Luo, Wei (September 26, 2017). "Analysis of Groundwater Nitrate Contamination in the Central Valley: Comparison of the Geodetector Method, Principal Component Analysis and Geographically Weighted Regression". ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 6 (10): 297. Bibcode:2017IJGI....6..297S. doi:10.3390/ijgi6100297. ISSN 2220-9964.
  9. ^ "Groundwater in California - Public Policy Institute of California". Public Policy Institute of California. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  10. ^ Olmstead, Alan; Rhode, Paul W. (July 16, 2018), "Agriculture in American Economic History", The Oxford Handbook of American Economic History, vol. 1, Oxford University Press, pp. 158–182, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190882617.013.8, ISBN 9780190882617
  11. ^ a b "Manganese in Drinking Water | California State Water Resources Control Board". www.waterboards.ca.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Nelson, Timothy; Chou, Heidi; Zikalala, Prudentia; Lund, Jay; Hui, Rui; Medellín–Azuara, Josué (March 23, 2016). "Economic and Water Supply Effects of Ending Groundwater Overdraft in California's Central Valley". San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science. 14 (1). doi:10.15447/sfews.2016v14iss1art7. ISSN 1546-2366.
  13. ^ Aichele, Stephen S. (2004). "Arsenic, nitrate, and chloride in groundwater, Oakland County, Michigan". Fact Sheet: 5. Bibcode:2004usgs.rept....5A. doi:10.3133/fs20043120. ISSN 2327-6932.
  14. ^ "Office of Dietary Supplements - Manganese". ods.od.nih.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Balazs, Carolina; Morello-Frosch, Rachel; Hubbard, Alan; Ray, Isha (September 2011). "Social Disparities in Nitrate-Contaminated Drinking Water in California's San Joaquin Valley". Environmental Health Perspectives. 119 (9): 1272–1278. Bibcode:2011EnvHP.119.1272B. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002878. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 3230390. PMID 21642046.
  16. ^ Sheehy, Robert D. (2006). "Stale-Dated Check Fraud: How Much Has Your City Lost?". doi:10.1037/e559052006-004. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/documents/nitrate/fact_sheet_nitrate_may2014_update.pdf
  18. ^ Puckett, Larry J. Lpuckett@Usgs. gov (1994). "Nonpoint and Point Sources of Nitrogen in Major Watersheds of the United States". USGS Report: 98. Bibcode:1994usgs.rept...98P. doi:10.3133/wri944001. hdl:2346/64037.
  19. ^ Kerlin, Katherine E. (August 9, 2016). "California Nitrogen Assessment Shows the State of the Science on Nitrogen Use and Pollution". UC Davis. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  20. ^ Aiken, Miranda L.; Pace, Clare E.; Ramachandran, Maithili; Schwabe, Kurt A.; Ajami, Hoori; Link, Bruce G.; Ying, Samantha C. (February 7, 2023). "Disparities in Drinking Water Manganese Concentrations in Domestic Wells and Community Water Systems in the Central Valley, CA, USA". Environmental Science & Technology. 57 (5): 1987–1996. Bibcode:2023EnST...57.1987A. doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c08548. ISSN 0013-936X. PMC 9910038. PMID 36696271.
  21. ^ a b "Manganese in Drinking Water | California State Water Resources Control Board". www.waterboards.ca.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Manganese Fact Sheet". Water Quality Association. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  23. ^ Grout, Leah; Chambers, Tim; Hales, Simon; Prickett, Marnie; Baker, Michael G.; Wilson, Nick (January 20, 2023). "The potential human health hazard of nitrates in drinking water: a media discourse analysis in a high-income country". Environmental Health. 22 (1): 9. Bibcode:2023EnvHe..22....9G. doi:10.1186/s12940-023-00960-5. ISSN 1476-069X. PMC 9851889. PMID 36658626.
  24. ^ "Drinking Water Nitrate and Human Health: An Updated Review | CHEEC | Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination". cheec.uiowa.edu. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  25. ^ Ward, Mary H.; Kilfoy, Briseis A.; Weyer, Peter J.; Anderson, Kristin E.; Folsom, Aaron R.; Cerhan, James R. (May 2010). "Nitrate Intake and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid Disease". Epidemiology. 21 (3): 389–395. doi:10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181d6201d. ISSN 1044-3983. PMC 2879161. PMID 20335813.
  26. ^ Serrano-Nascimento, Caroline; Nunes, Maria Tereza (October 21, 2022). "Perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate: Environmental relevant NIS-inhibitors pollutants and their impact on thyroid function and human health". Frontiers in Endocrinology. 13. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.995503. ISSN 1664-2392. PMC 9633673. PMID 36339434.
  27. ^ De Roos, Anneclaire J.; Ward, Mary H.; Lynch, Charles F.; Cantor, Kenneth P. (November 2003). "Nitrate in Public Water Supplies and the Risk of Colon and Rectum Cancers". Epidemiology. 14 (6): 640–649. doi:10.1097/01.ede.0000091605.01334.d3. ISSN 1044-3983. PMID 14569178. S2CID 37319996.
  28. ^ Ward, M. H.; Mark, S. D.; Cantor, K. P.; Weisenburger, D. D.; Correa-Villaseñor, A.; Zahm, S. H. (September 1996). "Drinking water nitrate and the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". Epidemiology. 7 (5): 465–471. doi:10.1097/00001648-199609000-00003. ISSN 1044-3983. PMID 8862975. S2CID 42375910.
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