Central Valley water regulators want the world’s largest winery to stop using its wastewater on local crops — a decades-old waste management practice — because it’s threatening Fresno’s drinking water supply. The Central Valley Water Regional Quality Control Board issued a tentative Cease and Desist Order to E. & J. Gallo Winery in March for allegedly violating 2015 waste discharge requirements. … The stipulated order says the winery at Olive and Clovis avenues is “threatening to adversely impact groundwater beneath the Facility.” Specifically, Gallo’s practice of applying some of its untreated wastewater from the grape crush and press process directly to 400 acres of local cropland has resulted in concentrations of nitrate and other contaminants above allowable levels. The city of Fresno is directly impacted by the winery’s wastewater practices because it relies on groundwater downgradient of the winery for its municipal drinking water.

Other groundwater news:

• SJV Water: Judge orders groundwater agency to speed up records release in lawsuit over sinking Friant-Kern Canal
• SJV Water: Hanford-area groundwater agency enacts well registration and reporting policies
• San Francisco Chronicle: Maps show where land is sinking in California’s biggest cities
• Arizona Capitol Times: Coalition of farmers, cities want to stop Mayes’ groundwater lawsuit