Topic: Drinking Water

Overview

Drinking Water

Finding and maintaining a clean water supply for drinking and other uses has been a constant challenge throughout human history.

Aquafornia news High Country News (Paonia, Colo.)

USGS’ biological research arm could vanish next week

All 1,200 scientists and staff at the U.S. Geological Survey’s biological research arm are on edge this week as they wait to learn whether they’ll still have jobs come Monday. For weeks, the biologists who work in the division, known as the Ecosystems Mission Area, have watched two parallel threats unfold. Most immediate is the expected firing of most division staff as soon as next week. … The second threat is even more serious: If the White House has its way, its proposed 2026 budget would eliminate the Ecosystems Mission Area, or EMA, altogether. … The elimination of EMA would have profound consequences. … It would erase bipartisan and widely respected programs that, for example, monitor waterfowl populations for game agencies, track contamination in drinking water, convene time- and cost-saving collaborations between agencies, universities and nonprofits, and foster the next generation of fish and wildlife professionals. … EMA scientists also monitor toxic chemicals in water, and are one of the only groups looking in private wells

Other USGS news:

Aquafornia news KTLA (Los Angeles, Calif.)

LADWP says substance causing ‘earthy odor’ in drinking water is not harmful 

Some residents in the San Fernando Valley have reported an “earthy odor” coming from their drinking water, but officials say the cause of the smell is not harmful. In a statement issued Monday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said they had received “inquiries and reports” from some customers regarding the smell and that they began testing which revealed the “musty” odor is attributable to Geosmin.  Geosmin is a natural compound created from algae, LADWP explained. … In Monday’s statement, LADWP said it began increasing its water quality monitoring, sampling and testing through the Los Angeles Aqueduct System earlier this month. Elevated Geosmin levels were detected on May 13, and “immediate adjustments” to treatment and operations were made to control the situation, LADWP said. 

Aquafornia news The Center Square

EPA invests $30.7 million in rural water infrastructure, lead line replacement

Wastewater and drinking water systems in small and rural communities across America will receive an extra funding boost to improve water quality, per an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday. The EPA will distribute $30.7 million in technical assistance grants to help small, underfunded public water systems comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. The funds can also be used to help private well owners in rural areas improve their water quality and update small public wastewater septic systems. “Small and rural communities are the backbone of our country, and they face unique challenges when it comes to ensuring clean and safe water,” EPA Senior Advisor Jessica Kramer said. 

Other EPA news:

Aquafornia news The Guardian (London, U.K.)

Trump officials want to cut limits of PFAS in drinking water – what will the impact be?

The Trump administration has announced it would attempt to kill some of the strong new Pfas “forever chemical” drinking water limits set in April 2024. While the moves would deliver a clear win for the US chemical and water utility industries, it is less clear whether the action will be successful, what it means longterm for the safety of the US’s drinking water, and its impact on progress in addressing forever chemical pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is attempting maneuvers that violate the law, observers say, and even if they survive a legal challenge, progress under the Biden administration cannot be fully undone. … Still, the announcement raises a fresh round of questions about the water utility industry, which has led the attack on the new rules. 

Other PFAS news:

Aquafornia news Los Angeles Times

EPA plans to drop limits on some ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on some so-called forever chemicals in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. The Biden administration set the first federal drinking water limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, finding that they increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and babies being born with low birth weight. Those limits on PFAS, which are man-made and don’t easily break down in nature, were expected to be reduced in drinking water for millions of people. Limits on three types of PFAS, including so-called GenX substances found in North Carolina, will be scrapped and reconsidered by the agency, as will a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS.

Other PFAS news:

Aquafornia news The Vacaville Reporter (Calif.)

Vacaville council balks at water rate increase

The Vacaville City Council decided not to raise water rates for the time being, as councilmembers railed against a state mandate to lower levels of toxic hexavalent chromium (Chromium 6) in the city’s water supply. On a 6-0 vote Tuesday night, the council directed staff to pursue alternatives and bring the decision back to the council at a later date. … The council accepted 1,110 written protests from the community, but more than 16,000 would have been needed to override the council’s ability to vote in accordance with state law. … The vote went against city staff’s recommendation to increase rates, as the city cannot continue to pay for its water system at the current rates. Even without state mandates to reduce the level of Chromium 6 in the water supply, the city would need to increase rates, according to Utilities Director Justen Cole and Chris Fischer of Wildan Financial Services, an outside firm hired to help the city conduct an assessment of its rates.

Aquafornia news The Appeal

Blog: “If you want to live, don’t drink the water”

… For decades, people incarcerated at Mule Creek have raised the alarm about the prison’s drinking water. Reporting from inside Mule Creek State Prison, with interviews and surveys from nearly 100 people—including currently incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, loved ones of the incarcerated, and former prison staff—and a review of thousands of pages of records, reveals troubling concerns and observations of the prison’s water quality for the last 20 years. … Despite this litany of warning signs, including repeated complaints and lawsuits, the prison has deferred responsibility. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials say the local water company is responsible for ensuring the water is safe; the water company says state regulators are responsible; regulators say it’s the prison’s responsibility. All the while, incarcerated people at Mule Creek have no choice but to drink it. 

Aquafornia news NBC Palm Springs (Calif.)

Clean water at last: San Antonio Mobile Home Park families in Thermal celebrate after decades of waiting

Dozens of families in the San Antonio Mobile Home Park in Thermal are celebrating a life-changing milestone that many people take for granted: safe, clean running water in their homes. After nearly three decades of living without reliable access to clean water, residents can now turn on their taps without fear. For years, they relied on bottled water, makeshift plumbing, and daily workarounds because of dangerous arsenic levels in the groundwater and years of alleged neglect by former park owners. The long-overdue project was made possible through grassroots activism and collaboration between the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Pueblo Unido, and the Coachella Valley Water District. Recently, five new water meters and essential infrastructure upgrades were installed in the park as part of a nearly $30 million effort that took almost 20 years to complete.

Aquafornia news The Washington Post

EPA plans to roll back Biden PFAS drinking water standards

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it plans to rescind and reconsider limits on four different “forever chemicals” under a landmark drinking water standard implemented last year by President Joe Biden. The drinking water rules were adopted as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to limit public exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), hazardous chemicals linked to a range of serious illnesses. The original rule covered six common PFAS contaminants, including PFOA, a known human carcinogen, and PFOS, a likely carcinogen. The EPA estimates that more than 158 million Americans are exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. The agency plans to maintain current rules for PFOA and PFOS, though it will extend the deadline for compliance from 2029 to 2031.

Other PFAS news:

Aquafornia news Los Angeles Times

Researchers find drinking water is safe in Eaton, Palisades burn areas

Scientists have released some of the first independent test results confirming that drinking water in fire-affected areas around Altadena and the Pacific Palisades is largely free of harmful contaminants, as an Altadena utility lifted the last “do not drink” notice left in the burn zones. Researchers with the LA Fire HEALTH Study released results on Friday from 53 homes spread across the burn areas and the more than three miles surrounding them. They found only one with a toxic substance at dangerous levels: at one home, the water contained benzene, a known carcinogen, at concentrations slightly above the state’s allowable level of 1 part per billion. The findings add to mounting evidence that the affected area’s drinking water is safe.

Other fire and water impact news:

Aquafornia news KFSN (Fresno, Calif.)

$5M water project to bring clean drinking water to rural Latino community

A Fresno County community is celebrating breaking ground on a long-awaited project to connect residents to Sanger’s water system. It would give residents in the rural area of Tombstone access to safe, reliable drinking water. … It’s all made possible by California’s Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, which is a bill signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. … The fund provides $130 million year after year through the year 2030 in an effort to highlight drinking water needs, more so in areas where access to and clean water are not available. The State Water Boards reported that since Governor Newsom has served in his role, the number of Californians who don’t have access to clean drinking water has been cut by more than half.

Other local water infrastructure news:

Aquafornia news Cronkite News (Phoenix, Ariz.)

New Arizona rules allow purified wastewater for drinking

With dwindling water supplies, cities throughout Arizona are exploring multiple ways to meet residents’ water needs. In March, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality gave municipalities a new tool: Wastewater treated by advanced purification can now flow directly from local water systems into residents’ taps. For years, cities have used advanced purified water as an indirect potable source, recharging it into aquifers or other water supplies, and later extracting it for purification and human consumption. The new regulations enable cities to use advanced purified water immediately for direct consumption. Advanced purified water is wastewater that has undergone a multi-step process to remove impurities and meet state drinking water standards. The treatment uses ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light disinfection and advanced oxidation.

Aquafornia news KSBY (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

Investigation continues into Five Cities water contamination

A week following a boil water notice in the Five Cities area, San Luis Obispo County is still investigating the cause of the contamination. While that order has been lifted for the communities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Oceano, Pismo Beach and Avila Beach, some residents are still taking precautions. … Nola Engelskirger from San Luis Obispo County Public Works says she understands people’s concerns, but now that the notice is lifted, there is nothing to worry about. “People should know their water is safe. It is meeting all drinking water standards. The boil water notice was lifted, and right now we are doing everything we can to take precautions to not have that happen again,” she said.

Aquafornia news Los Angeles Times

Water now safe to drink from all fire-affected utilities in L.A. area, state says

Tap water is now safe to drink in areas served by all nine water systems where damage from the firestorms in Altadena and Pacific Palisades had prompted “do not drink” notices, state regulators said Friday. The last water utility with such a notice, the Las Flores Water Co. in Altadena, was cleared to resume delivering drinking water and lifted its “do not drink” and “do not boil” advisory on Friday, four months after the notice was issued. Las Flores has recommended to customers that when they resume using water, they take various steps to flush the household system, including running all the faucets for at least five minutes before using. Officials from the State Water Resources Control Board said they have been working with utilities to help assess damage, test for potential contamination and ensure it’s safe to resume water service.

Other fire and water impact news:

Aquafornia news The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

How did SLO County Calif. find bacteria in drinking water?

A large swath of southern San Luis Obispo County was ordered to boil its drinking water last week after bacteria was discovered in Lopez Lake’s water distribution pipeline. Residents of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Oceano, Avila Beach and other unincorporated areas of the South County had to to boil drinking water for up to four days depending on where they lived. … The county discovered the bacteria at five routine testing sites in the Lopez water distribution system on April 29. After a second round of tests, the county issued a boil water notice on April 30 — which lifted for some residents on May 2 and others on May 3. … On Thursday, the county shared additional details of what led to the unprecedented boil water notice for Five Cities residents. Here’s what happened.

Related article:

Aquafornia news AP News

Utah dentists prepare for the first statewide fluoride ban

With Utah’s first-in-the-nation ban on fluoride in public drinking water set to take effect Wednesday, dentists who treat children and low-income patients say they’re bracing for an increase in tooth decay among the state’s most vulnerable people. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed the law against the recommendation of many dentists and national health experts who warn removing fluoride will harm tooth development, especially in young patients without regular access to dental care. Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride under a bill that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday he would sign soon. The Ohio and South Carolina legislatures are considering similar measures. 

Other fluoride news:

Aquafornia news The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calf.)

SLO County Calif. switches disinfectant after E. coli alert

The San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Works is temporarily changing how it disinfects water in the South County after residents were put under a boil water notice late last week. Around 50,000 residents in the Five Cities area were told on April 30 to boil their water before use after a sample from the Lopez Lake water system tested positive for E. coli, the county said. It was the first time such a sample had prompted a boil water notice for the distribution system, which feeds much of the South County region. … Now, Public Works is expected to temporarily change the disinfectant used in the Lopez Project distribution system from chloramine disinfection — which uses a blend of chlorine and ammonia — to free chlorine, according to a news release.

Related article:

Aquafornia news CBS 8 (San Diego)

San Diego residents taste, smell chlorine in water

Some residents in San Diego neighborhoods including Pacific Beach and La Jolla told CBS 8 that they have recently picked up on a strong chlorine flavor and questioned what was happening. … Working for you, CBS 8 reached out to the City of San Diego to find out what’s causing the smell and taste. According to the city, chlorine is a standard and essential part of treating drinking water. It’s used as a disinfectant and is regularly added to water stored in local reservoirs, which are monitored weekly. … After a recent inspection, the city added more chlorine to the Bay View reservoir to ensure water quality. Some residents served by the reservoir, including in Pacific Beach, La Jolla and Soledad, may have temporarily noticed a stronger taste or smell. 

Aquafornia news National Law Review

Blog: States strengthen PFAS water regulations amid federal uncertainty

… With the rapid rollbacks taking place across the federal government showing no signs of decelerating, many environmental groups have expressed concern that regulations safeguarding against PFAS contamination could soon be weakened or overturned. As a result of the unclear future of federal regulation, as well as the prevalence of PFAS in drinking water, many states have taken it upon themselves to strengthen their PFAS laws to protect their waterways. … One such example was seen in California, where state legislators introduced Assembly Bill 794 aiming to strengthen the State Water Board’s authority by empowering the Water Board to directly combat challenges to the existing federal regulation by ordering it to “establish emergency regulations that are at least as protective as current federal standards” (as of January 19, 2025).

Aquafornia news Stormwater Solutions

Tuesday Top of the Scroll: Clean water programs see $2.4B cut in White House’s proposed FY2026 budget

In a May 2, 2025, letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, President Donald Trump’s FY2026 budget proposal amounts to $4.2 billion in total funding reduction in 2026 compared to 2025 for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan programs would see the greatest reduction with an overall budget of $305 million. That amounts to $2.46 billion less than the 2025 budget. The President’s letter claims this change will place the onus on states to fund their own infrastructure while sharing additional reasoning as to why the reduction is on the table. 

Other water, environment and agriculture funding news:

Aquafornia news Sierra Club

Blog: Water, electricity, and clean air are essentially connected pieces of a healthy civic life

Turn on the tap, and you have reasonably clean water to use instantly. That is because electricity pumps water to your faucets. Electricity is generated by heating water into steam to run turbines unless you use wind or photovoltaic (PV) energy sources for electrical production. Often, these essential connections are not mentioned in public information. Especially in drought-prone places, the simple fact is that you need water for energy, and it takes energy to move, chill, or heat water. Southern California is in a drought, and parts of the western deserts are in severe drought conditions. We may realize that hydroelectric power production from dammed rivers is diminished in periods of extended drought. Living well in a water deficit region requires enormous use of electrical energy to move water from mountainous northern California to our desert and semiarid regions. 

Aquafornia news The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

SLO County residents told to boil water due to bacteria. How dangerous is it?

Thousands of San Luis Obispo County residents were recently warned to boil or purify their drinking water after tests detected a strain of coliform bacteria in the water supply. The bacteria, which was found in the water distribution system of Zone 3 of the San Miguelito Water Co., is an early indication of a potential E. coli contamination. … This is the first time coliform bacteria contamination at the Lopez distribution system has triggered a boil water notice, the county Public Works Department said in a Thursday news release. Here’s what to know about the potentially dangerous water contaminant. 

Related articles:

Aquafornia news ScienceAlert

Microplastics persist in drinking water despite treatment plant advances

Tiny pieces of plastic are an increasingly big problem. Known as microplastics, they originate from clothing, kitchen utensils, personal care products, and countless other everyday objects. Their durability makes them persistent in the environment – including in human bodies. … According to a new literature review, a significant portion of our microplastic exposure may come from drinking water, as wastewater treatment plants are still not effectively removing microplastics. … ”What our systematic literature review found is that while most wastewater treatment facilities significantly reduce microplastics loads, complete removal remains unattainable with current technologies,” says senior author Un-Jung Kim, environmental engineer at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).

Aquafornia news AP News

Trump administration deciding on PFAS drinking water limits

… EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has championed fossil fuels and the rollback of major clean air and water rules. His history with PFAS is more nuanced; during his time as a New York congressman, he supported legislation to regulate forever chemicals in drinking water. … Zeldin has offered clues about what the EPA could do. The agency estimated the rule would cost about $1.5 billion annually and Zeldin said recently that communities struggling to afford a fix for PFAS that are just above the standard might be handled differently than wealthy places with lots of it. … On Monday, the EPA said it will establish an agency lead for PFAS, develop wastewater limits for PFAS manufacturers and investigate sources that pose an immediate danger to drinking water, among other actions.

Other PFAS news:

Aquafornia news The University of Texas at Arlington

News release: Harmful microplastics infiltrating drinking water

Despite advances in wastewater treatment, tiny plastic particles called microplastics are still slipping through, posing potential health and environmental hazards, according to new research from The University of Texas at Arlington. … (W)hen a plastic item reaches the end of its useful life, it never truly disappears. Instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics—particles five millimeters or less, about the width of a pencil eraser—that end up in our soil and water. “What our systematic literature review found is that while most wastewater treatment facilities significantly reduce microplastics loads, complete removal remains unattainable with current technologies,” said Un-Jung Kim, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington and senior author of the study published in Science of the Total Environment. 

Aquafornia news Spencer Fane

Blog: EPA’s PFAS regulations will impact waste management and environmental cleanups

… While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has changed directions on several environmental subjects since President Donald Trump took office, PFAS regulations are not yet among those. Indeed, the Biden Administration EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap still is posted on the EPA’s website – at least for now – and the EPA has not reported in two cases the positions it will take on judicial challenges to final Biden-era PFAS regulations. Thus, although those regulations are under challenge, they are in effect, they have not been stayed, and they are having impacts in the regulated community.  The EPA’s April 2024 PFAS maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act will affect drinking water systems, of course. More broadly, they also will affect groundwater cleanups as the low MCL values become integrated into screening levels, risk analyses, and remediation levels.

Other PFAS news:

Aquafornia news The Fresno Bee

Editorial: California lawmakers address rural water contamination issues

Outside of major cities like Fresno and Clovis, drinking-water quality for San Joaquin Valley residents can be dicey. The Valley is full of examples of rural water systems failing to either produce enough supply or deliver fresh water that is not tainted by contaminants, be they manufactured, like farming chemicals, or naturally occurring elements in local soils like arsenic. … Now, Rep. David Valadao, a Republican from Hanford, is teaming up with Rep. Norma Torres, a Democratic legislator from Southern California, on a new bill that would amend the federal Safe Drinking Water Act by adding a special focus on nitrate and arsenic pollution in groundwater. The amendment would authorize the federal government to allocate $15 million a year in grants to clean up failing water systems in rural communities.

Aquafornia news Policyholder Pulse

Blog: The latest on PFAS: What policyholders need to know now

We have previously written on the evolving risks associated with PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—and their implications for policyholders navigating environmental liabilities involving both PFAS and PFAS-related chemicals (i.e., fluorinated chemicals that do not fit the definition of PFAS). Our prior analyses explored coverage strategies and regulatory enforcement trends. With regulatory activity and litigation continuing to accelerate, we are circling back to provide an updated look at the regulatory and legal landscape surrounding PFAS, including recent federal developments, insurer responses and practical guidance for policyholders navigating this complex and high-stakes area. … Since our last insurance roundup in October 2023, there have been significant developments in PFAS regulation, litigation and insurance coverage about which policyholders should be aware. This blog post provides an inexhaustive overview of some of the more significant developments.

Aquafornia news The New York Times

Opinion: Magical thinking about a miracle mineral

… At the beginning of the 20th century, Frederick McKay, a young dentist in Colorado Springs, noticed that his patients’ teeth showed unsightly browning — now known as fluorosis, a consequence of exposure to too much fluoride. At the same time, those patients’ teeth were far more resistant to dental decay than those of people in nearby towns, whose teeth looked better. … As for natural contamination of the kind that Colorado Springs experienced, it’s estimated that more than 100,000 people in the United States get their water from wells with naturally excessive fluoride levels. You’d think that the folks calling to end fluoridation would also be unveiling a comprehensive plan to help people make sure their private water sources are safe. Yet Kennedy has not done so. Why not? A better question might be why now? Why the sudden urge to talk about fluoride? I think the answer may lie somewhere quite far afield. In Texas, actually. 
-Written by Zeynep Tufekci, a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University and a New York Times Opinion columnist.

Other fluoride news:

Aquafornia news The New Lede

Study reveals US hotspots for poor water quality and “water injustice”

New research has identified hotspots in the US with concerning levels of water quality and poor access to clean drinking water, revealing that Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Washington had the most water quality violations across the board. The paper, published Tuesday in the journal Risk Analysis, also developed county-level scores across most of the country for unequal access to safe and clean drinking water, finding that eight of the 10 counties with the worst “water injustice” scores were in Mississippi, with the other two in Texas and South Dakota. … “You can see some pretty stark differences between states,” said study lead author Alex Segrè Cohen, a social scientist at the University of Oregon. In Arizona, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, “almost every county has high water violation scores,” she said.

Aquafornia news Fast Company

Breaking the forever chemical cycle starts with industry

… Studies suggest that PFAS has contaminated almost 50% of the U.S. tap water supply. These chemicals are linked to a growing list of health risks, including cancers and chronic diseases. Many global institutions have recently taken regulatory action. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed stringent limits for PFAS in drinking water. … Beyond drinking water, recent studies expose another major PFAS concern: wastewater and sludge. Treated wastewater, often considered safe for reuse, has been found to still carry significant levels of PFAS. Even more concerning is the widespread practice of using treated sewage sludge as farm fertilizer. The EPA has warned that PFAS in sludge can contaminate crops, soil, and groundwater, creating a direct pathway from industrial chemical waste to the food we eat. … The question isn’t whether businesses should act, it’s whether they can afford not to. 

Other PFAS news:

Aquafornia news USA Today

What is fluoride? Why health experts maintain that it’s ’safe and effective’

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has gone after fluoride in drinking water, a move that medical experts widely disagree with. Water fluoridation has been proven to be so effective at preventing tooth decay that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named it one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, a time during which Americans’ life expectancies rose by 30 years. “Fluoride has been studied extensively for decades and is considered safe and effective at recommended levels,” cosmetic dentist Dr. James Heaton tells USA TODAY. “While some debates focus on the ethics of water fluoridation or potential health concerns, the overwhelming consensus from the American Dental Association, CDC and World Health Organization is that fluoride is a critical tool in preventing tooth decay.” Here’s what licensed medical experts want you to know about fluoride.

Other fluoride news:

Publication

Layperson’s Guide to Water Recycling
Updated 2024

Layperson's Guide to Water Recycling

Cities across California and the Southwest are significantly increasing and diversifying their use of recycled wastewater as traditional water supplies grow tighter.

The 5th edition of our Layperson’s Guide to Water Recycling covers the latest trends and statistics on water reuse as a strategic defense against prolonged drought and climate change.

Aquafornia news The Associated Press

Trillions of gallons leak from aging drinking water systems, further stressing shrinking US cities

Water bubbles up in streets, pooling in neighborhoods for weeks or months. Homes burn to the ground if firefighters can’t draw enough water from hydrants. Utility crews struggle to fix broken pipes while water flows through shut-off valves that don’t work. … Across the U.S., trillions of gallons of drinking water are lost every year, especially from decrepit systems in communities struggling with significant population loss and industrial decline that leave behind poorer residents, vacant neighborhoods and too-large water systems that are difficult to maintain.

Related article: 

Aquafornia news The Arizona Republic

Commentary: Water regulation in Arizona has now devolved into a game of chicken

Water regulation in Arizona has devolved into a game of chicken. The governor and farmers are rivals revving their engines, hoping their opponent will flinch first. Caught in the middle is Gila Bend, a groundwater basin south of Buckeye, where the state could decide to impose its most stringent form of regulation, whether folks like it or not. Both sides are using Gila Bend as a bargaining chip to win support for competing legislative proposals. But to what end?
- Written by Joanna Allhands, Arizona Republic digital opinions editor 

Related article: 

Aquafornia news JFleck at Inkstain

Blog: Senate hearing Thursday on tribal access to clean water: it takes more than just a pile of money

The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding an important hearing Thursday on S. 2385, a bill to refine the tools needed to help Tribal communities gain access to something that most non-Indian communities in the western United States have long taken for granted: federally subsidized systems to deliver safe, clean drinking water to our homes. … This is the sort of bill (there’s a companion on the House side) that makes a huge amount of sense, but could easily get sidetracked in the chaos of Congress. The ideal path is for the crucial vetting to happen in a process such as Thursday’s hearing, and then to attach it to one of those omnibus things that Congress uses these days to get non-controversial stuff done. Clean water for Native communities should pretty clearly be non-controversial.

Aquafornia news Los Angeles Times

As climate hazards converge, health risks rise in California

State health officials know that extreme heat can cost lives and send people to the hospital, just like wildfire smoke. Now, new research finds that when people are exposed to both hazards simultaneously — as is increasingly the case in California — heart and respiratory crises outpace the expected sum of hospitalizations compared to when the conditions occur separately. … The study joins a growing body of research about the intersection of different climate risks. Last month, California-based think-tank the Pacific Institute published a report about how converging hazards — including wildfires, drought, flooding, sea level rise and intensifying storms — are harming access to drinking water and sanitation in California and other parts of the world. The deadly 2018 Camp fire in Butte County impacted an estimated 2,438 private wells, the report said.

Colorado River Shortages Drive Major Advances in Recycled Sewage Water Use
WESTERN WATER NOTEBOOK: Phoenix, Southern California betting on purified sewage to fill drinking water needs

After more than two decades of drought, water utilities serving the largest urban regions in the arid Southwest are embracing a drought-proof source of drinking water long considered a supply of last resort: purified sewage.

Water supplies have tightened to the point that Phoenix and the water supplier for 19 million Southern California residents are racing to adopt an expensive technology called “direct potable reuse” or “advanced purification” to reduce their reliance on imported water from the dwindling Colorado River.

Aquafornia news Fresnoland

Most of state’s unsafe water systems in California’s Central Valley

… A state audit from the California Water Resources Control Board released last year found that over 920,000 residents faced an increased risk of illness–including cancer, liver and kidney problems–due to consuming unsafe drinking water. A majority of these unsafe water systems are in the Central Valley. The matter has prompted community leaders to mobilize residents around water quality as politicians confront imperfect solutions for the region’s supply. Advocates point out that impacted areas, including those in Tulare County, tend to be majority Latino with low median incomes. … This year’s extreme weather has only worsened the valley’s problems. The storms that hit California at the start of this year caused stormwater tainted with farm industry fertilizer, manure and nitrates to flow into valley aquifers. 

Testing at the Source: California Readies a Groundbreaking Hunt to Check for Microplastics in Drinking Water
WESTERN WATER NOTEBOOK: Regulators and water systems are finalizing a first-of-its-kind pilot that will determine whether microplastics are contaminating water destined for the tap

Image shows a test jar filled with microplastic debrisTiny pieces of plastic waste shed from food wrappers, grocery bags, clothing, cigarette butts, tires and paint are invading the environment and every facet of daily life. Researchers know the plastic particles have even made it into municipal water supplies, but very little data exists about the scope of microplastic contamination in drinking water. 

After years of planning, California this year is embarking on a first-of-its-kind data-gathering mission to illuminate how prevalent microplastics are in the state’s largest drinking water sources and help regulators determine whether they are a public health threat.

Could Virtual Networks Solve Drinking Water Woes for California’s Isolated, Disadvantaged Communities?
WESTERN WATER SPOTLIGHT: UCLA pilot project uses high-tech gear in LA to remotely run clean-water systems for small communities in Central California's Salinas Valley

UCLA’s remote water treatment systems are providing safe tap water to three disadvantaged communities in the Salinas Valley. A pilot program in the Salinas Valley run remotely out of Los Angeles is offering a test case for how California could provide clean drinking water for isolated rural communities plagued by contaminated groundwater that lack the financial means or expertise to connect to a larger water system.

New EPA Regional Administrator Tackles Water Needs with a Wealth of Experience and $1 Billion in Federal Funding
WESTERN WATER Q&A: Martha Guzman says surge of federal dollars offers 'greatest opportunity' to address longstanding water needs, including for tribes & disadvantaged communities in EPA Region 9

EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman.Martha Guzman recalls those awful days working on water and other issues as a deputy legislative secretary for then-Gov. Jerry Brown. California was mired in a recession and the state’s finances were deep in the red. Parks were cut, schools were cut, programs were cut to try to balance a troubled state budget in what she remembers as “that terrible time.”

She now finds herself in a strikingly different position: As administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, she has a mandate to address water challenges across California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii and $1 billion to help pay for it. It is the kind of funding, she said, that is usually spread out over a decade. Guzman called it the “absolutely greatest opportunity.”

In the Heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Two Groundwater Sustainability Agencies Try to Find Their Balance
WESTERN WATER SPECIAL REPORT: Agencies in Fresno, Tulare counties pursue different approaches to address overdraft and meet requirements of California’s groundwater law

Flooding permanent crops seasonally, such as this vineyard at Terranova Ranch in Fresno County, is one innovative strategy to recharge aquifers.Across a sprawling corner of southern Tulare County snug against the Sierra Nevada, a bounty of navel oranges, grapes, pistachios, hay and other crops sprout from the loam and clay of the San Joaquin Valley. Groundwater helps keep these orchards, vineyards and fields vibrant and supports a multibillion-dollar agricultural economy across the valley. But that bounty has come at a price. Overpumping of groundwater has depleted aquifers, dried up household wells and degraded ecosystems.

Western Water California Water Map Gary Pitzer

Meet the Veteran Insider Who’s Shepherding Gov. Newsom’s Plan to Bring Climate Resilience to California Water
WESTERN WATER Q&A: Former journalist Nancy Vogel explains how the draft California Water Resilience Portfolio came together and why it’s expected to guide future state decisions

Nancy Vogel, director of the Governor’s Water Portfolio Program, highlights key points in the draft Water Resilience Portfolio last month for the Water Education Foundation's 2020 Water Leaders class. Shortly after taking office in 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom called on state agencies to deliver a Water Resilience Portfolio to meet California’s urgent challenges — unsafe drinking water, flood and drought risks from a changing climate, severely depleted groundwater aquifers and native fish populations threatened with extinction.

Within days, he appointed Nancy Vogel, a former journalist and veteran water communicator, as director of the Governor’s Water Portfolio Program to help shepherd the monumental task of compiling all the information necessary for the portfolio. The three state agencies tasked with preparing the document delivered the draft Water Resilience Portfolio Jan. 3. The document, which Vogel said will help guide policy and investment decisions related to water resilience, is nearing the end of its comment period, which goes through Friday, Feb. 7.

Western Water Layperson's Guide to Groundwater Douglas E. Beeman

Water Resource Innovation, Hard-Earned Lessons and Colorado River Challenges — Western Water Year in Review
WESTERN WATER NOTEBOOK-Our 2019 articles spanned the gamut from groundwater sustainability and drought resiliency to collaboration and innovation

Smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire as viewed from Lake Oroville in Northern California. Innovative efforts to accelerate restoration of headwater forests and to improve a river for the benefit of both farmers and fish. Hard-earned lessons for water agencies from a string of devastating California wildfires. Efforts to drought-proof a chronically water-short region of California. And a broad debate surrounding how best to address persistent challenges facing the Colorado River. 

These were among the issues Western Water explored in 2019, and are still worth taking a look at in case you missed them.

Western Water Layperson's Guide to Climate Change and Water Resources Gary PitzerDouglas E. Beeman

As Wildfires Grow More Intense, California Water Managers Are Learning To Rewrite Their Emergency Playbook
WESTERN WATER IN-DEPTH: Agencies share lessons learned as they recover from fires that destroyed facilities, contaminated supplies and devastated their customers

Debris from the Camp Fire that swept through the Sierra foothills town of Paradise  in November 2018.

By Gary Pitzer and Douglas E. Beeman

It’s been a year since two devastating wildfires on opposite ends of California underscored the harsh new realities facing water districts and cities serving communities in or adjacent to the state’s fire-prone wildlands. Fire doesn’t just level homes, it can contaminate water, scorch watersheds, damage delivery systems and upend an agency’s finances.

Western Water California Water Map

Your Don’t-Miss Roundup of Summer Reading From Western Water

Dear Western Water reader, 

Clockwise, from top: Lake Powell, on a drought-stressed Colorado River; Subsidence-affected bridge over the Friant-Kern Canal in the San Joaquin Valley;  A homeless camp along the Sacramento River near Old Town Sacramento; Water from a desalination plant in Southern California.Summer is a good time to take a break, relax and enjoy some of the great beaches, waterways and watersheds around California and the West. We hope you’re getting a chance to do plenty of that this July.

But in the weekly sprint through work, it’s easy to miss some interesting nuggets you might want to read. So while we’re taking a publishing break to work on other water articles planned for later this year, we want to help you catch up on Western Water stories from the first half of this year that you might have missed. 

Western Water California Water Map Gary Pitzer

Can Providing Bathrooms to Homeless Protect California’s Water Quality?
WESTERN WATER IN-DEPTH: The connection between homelessness and water is gaining attention under California human right to water law and water quality concerns

A homeless camp set up along the Sacramento River near downtown Sacramento. Each day, people living on the streets and camping along waterways across California face the same struggle – finding clean drinking water and a place to wash and go to the bathroom.

Some find friendly businesses willing to help, or public restrooms and drinking water fountains. Yet for many homeless people, accessing the water and sanitation that most people take for granted remains a daily struggle.

Western Water Layperson's Guide to California Wastewater Gary Pitzer

As Californians Save More Water, Their Sewers Get Less and That’s a Problem
WESTERN WATER NOTEBOOK: Lower flows damage equipment, concentrate waste and stink up neighborhoods; should water conservation focus shift outdoors?

Corrosion is evident in this wastewater pipe from Los Angeles County.Californians have been doing an exceptional job reducing their indoor water use, helping the state survive the most recent drought when water districts were required to meet conservation targets. With more droughts inevitable, Californians are likely to face even greater calls to save water in the future.

Western Water California Water Map Gary Pitzer

California’s New Natural Resources Secretary Takes on Challenge of Implementing Gov. Newsom’s Ambitious Water Agenda
WESTERN WATER Q&A: Wade Crowfoot addresses Delta tunnel shift, Salton Sea plan and managing water amid a legacy of conflict

Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary.One of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first actions after taking office was to appoint Wade Crowfoot as Natural Resources Agency secretary. Then, within weeks, the governor laid out an ambitious water agenda that Crowfoot, 45, is now charged with executing.

That agenda includes the governor’s desire for a “fresh approach” on water, scaling back the conveyance plan in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and calling for more water recycling, expanded floodplains in the Central Valley and more groundwater recharge.

Western Water California Groundwater Map Layperson's Guide to Flood Management Gary Pitzer

Southern California Water Providers Think Local in Seeking to Expand Supplies
WESTERN WATER SIDEBAR: Los Angeles and San Diego among agencies pursuing more diverse water portfolio beyond imports

The Claude “Bud” Lewis Desalination Plant in Carlsbad last December marked 40 billion gallons of drinking water delivered to San Diego County during its first three years of operation. The desalination plant provides the county with more than 50 million gallons of water each day.Although Santa Monica may be the most aggressive Southern California water provider to wean itself from imported supplies, it is hardly the only one looking to remake its water portfolio.

In Los Angeles, a city of about 4 million people, efforts are underway to dramatically slash purchases of imported water while boosting the amount from recycling, stormwater capture, groundwater cleanup and conservation. Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2014 announced a plan to reduce the city’s purchase of imported water from Metropolitan Water District by one-half by 2025 and to provide one-half of the city’s supply from local sources by 2035. (The city considers its Eastern Sierra supplies as imported water.)

Western Water Gary Pitzer

California Officials Draft a $600M Plan To Help Low-Income Households Absorb Rising Water Bills
WESTERN WATER NOTEBOOK: State Water Board report proposes new taxes on personal and business income or fees on bottled water and booze to fund rate relief program

Filling a glass with clean water from the kitchen tap.Low-income Californians can get help with their phone bills, their natural gas bills and their electric bills. But there’s only limited help available when it comes to water bills.

That could change if the recommendations of a new report are implemented into law. Drafted by the State Water Resources Control Board, the report outlines the possible components of a program to assist low-income households facing rising water bills.

Western Water California Groundwater Map Layperson's Guide to Groundwater Gary Pitzer

Vexed by Salt And Nitrates In Central Valley Groundwater, Regulators Turn To Unusual Coalition For Solutions
WESTERN WATER SPOTLIGHT: Left unaddressed, salts and nitrates could render farmland unsuitable for crops and family well water undrinkable

An evaporation pond in Kings County, in the central San Joaquin Valley, with salt encrusted on the soil. More than a decade in the making, an ambitious plan to deal with the vexing problem of salt and nitrates in the soils that seep into key groundwater basins of the Central Valley is moving toward implementation. But its authors are not who you might expect.

An unusual collaboration of agricultural interests, cities, water agencies and environmental justice advocates collaborated for years to find common ground to address a set of problems that have rendered family wells undrinkable and some soil virtually unusable for farming.

Western Water California Water Map Gary Pitzer

One Year In, A New State Policymaker Assesses the Salton Sea, Federal Relations and California’s Thorny Water Issues
WESTERN WATER Q&A: State Water Board member Joaquin Esquivel

State Water Resources Control Board member E. Joaquin EsquivelJoaquin Esquivel learned that life is what happens when you make plans. Esquivel, who holds the public member slot at the State Water Resources Control Board in Sacramento, had just closed purchase on a house in Washington D.C. with his partner when he was tapped by Gov. Jerry Brown a year ago to fill the Board vacancy.

Esquivel, 35, had spent a decade in Washington, first in several capacities with then Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and then as assistant secretary for federal water policy at the California Natural Resources Agency. As a member of the State Water Board, he shares with four other members the difficult task of ensuring balance to all the uses of California’s water. 

Western Water Layperson's Guide to Integrated Regional Water Management Gary Pitzer

Researchers Aim to Give Homeless a Voice in Southern California Watershed
NOTEBOOK: Assessment of homeless water challenges part of UC Irvine study of community water needs

Homeless encampment near Angel StadiumA new study could help water agencies find solutions to the vexing challenges the homeless face in gaining access to clean water for drinking and sanitation.

The Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) in Southern California has embarked on a comprehensive and collaborative effort aimed at assessing strengths and needs as it relates to water services for people (including the homeless) within its 2,840 square-mile area that extends from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Orange County coast.

Western Water Gary Pitzer

Millions of Dollars Needed to Help Low-Income Ratepayers with Water Bills, State Water Board Told
Five million Californians have affordability issues

A statewide program that began under a 2015 law to help low-income people with their water bills would cost about $600 million annually, a public policy expert told the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) at a meeting last week.

Aquapedia background

Potable Water

Photo of drinking water filling a glass over the kitchen sink. Potable water, also known as drinking water, comes from surface and ground sources and is treated to levels that that meet state and federal standards for consumption.

Water from natural sources is treated for microorganisms, bacteria, toxic chemicals, viruses and fecal matter. Drinking raw, untreated water can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting or fever.

Aquapedia background

Coliform Bacteria

Coliform Bacteria as Indices

Directly detecting harmful pathogens in water can be expensive, unreliable and incredibly complicated. Fortunately, certain organisms are known to consistently coexist with these harmful microbes which are substantially easier to detect and culture: coliform bacteria. These generally non-toxic organisms are frequently used as “indicator species,” or organisms whose presence demonstrates a particular feature of its surrounding environment.

Product

Colorado River Facts Slide Card

This card includes information about the Colorado River, who uses the river, how the river’s water is divided and other pertinent facts about this vital resource for the Southwest. Beautifully illustrated with color photographs.

Video

A Climate of Change: Water Adaptation Strategies

This 25-minute documentary-style DVD, developed in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, provides an excellent overview of climate change and how it is already affecting California. The DVD also explains what scientists anticipate in the future related to sea level rise and precipitation/runoff changes and explores the efforts that are underway to plan and adapt to climate.

Video

Stormwater Management: Turning Runoff into a Resource

20-minute DVD that explains the problem with polluted stormwater, and steps that can be taken to help prevent such pollution and turn what is often viewed as a “nuisance” into a water resource through various activities.

Video

Drinking Water: Quenching the Public Thirst (60-minute DVD)

Many Californians don’t realize that when they turn on the faucet, the water that flows out could come from a source close to home or one hundreds of miles away. Most people take their water for granted; not thinking about the elaborate systems and testing that go into delivering clean, plentiful water to households throughout the state. Where drinking water comes from, how it’s treated, and what people can do to protect its quality are highlighted in this 2007 PBS documentary narrated by actress Wendie Malick. 

Video

Drinking Water: Quenching the Public Thirst (30-minute DVD)

A 30-minute version of the 2007 PBS documentary Drinking Water: Quenching the Public Thirst. This DVD is ideal for showing at community forums and speaking engagements to help the public understand the complex issues surrounding the elaborate systems and testing that go into delivering clean, plentiful water to households throughout the state.

Video

Protecting Drinking Water on Tribal Lands

This 30-minute DVD explains the importance of developing a source water assessment program (SWAP) for tribal lands and by profiling three tribes that have created SWAPs. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the video complements the Foundation’s 109-page workbook, Protecting Drinking Water: A Workbook for Tribes, which includes a step-by-step work plan for Tribes interested in developing a protection plan for their drinking water.

Maps & Posters

Carson River Basin Map
Published 2006

A companion to the Truckee River Basin Map poster, this 24×36-inch poster, suitable for framing, explores the Carson River, and its link to the Truckee River. The map includes the Lahontan Dam and reservoir, the Carson Sink, and the farming areas in the basin. Map text discusses the region’s hydrology and geography, the Newlands Project, land and water use within the basin and wetlands. Development of the map was funded by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region, Lahontan Basin Area Office.

Maps & Posters

Truckee River Basin Map
Published 2005

This beautiful 24×36-inch poster, suitable for framing, displays the rivers, lakes and reservoirs, irrigated farmland, urban areas and Indian reservations within the Truckee River Basin, including the Newlands Project, Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe. Map text explains the issues surrounding the use of the Truckee-Carson rivers, Lake Tahoe water quality improvement efforts, fishery restoration and the effort to reach compromise solutions to many of these issues. 

Maps & Posters

Nevada Water Map
Published 2004

This 24×36 inch poster, suitable for framing, illustrates the water resources available for Nevada cities, agriculture and the environment. It features natural and manmade water resources throughout the state, including the Truckee and Carson rivers, Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake and the course of the Colorado River that forms the state’s eastern boundary.

Maps & Posters

Water Cycle Poster

Water as a renewable resource is depicted in this 18×24 inch poster. Water is renewed again and again by the natural hydrologic cycle where water evaporates, transpires from plants, rises to form clouds, and returns to the earth as precipitation. Excellent for elementary school classroom use.

Publication

Layperson’s Guide to Integrated Regional Water Management
Published 2013

The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) is an in-depth, easy-to-understand publication that provides background information on the principles of IRWM, its funding history and how it differs from the traditional water management approach.

Publication California Groundwater Map

Layperson’s Guide to Groundwater
Updated 2017

The 28-page Layperson’s Guide to Groundwater is an in-depth, easy-to-understand publication that provides background and perspective on groundwater. The guide explains what groundwater is – not an underground network of rivers and lakes! – and the history of its use in California.

Publication California Water Map

Layperson’s Guide to California Water
Updated 2021

The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to California Water provides an excellent overview of the history of water development and use in California. It includes sections on flood management; the state, federal and Colorado River delivery systems; Delta issues; water rights; environmental issues; water quality; and options for stretching the water supply such as water marketing and conjunctive use. New in this 10th edition of the guide is a section on the human need for water. 

Publication Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Map

Layperson’s Guide to the Delta
Updated 2020

The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to the Delta explores the competing uses and demands on California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Included in the guide are sections on the history of the Delta, its role in the state’s water system, and its many complex issues with sections on water quality, levees, salinity and agricultural drainage, fish and wildlife, and water distribution.

Aquapedia background

Water Treatment

Finding and maintaining a clean water supply for drinking and other uses has been a constant challenge throughout human history.

Today, significant technological developments in water treatment, including monitoring and assessment, help ensure a drinking water supply of high quality in California and the West.

The source of water and its initial condition prior to being treated usually determines the water treatment process. [See also Water Recycling.]

Aquapedia background

Surface Water Treatment

A tremendous amount of time and technology is expended to make surface water safe to drink. Surface water undergoes many processes before it reaches a consumer’s tap.

Aquapedia background California Water Map Layperson's Guide to California Water

Safe Drinking Water Act

The federal Safe Drinking Water Act sets standards for drinking water quality in the United States.

Launched in 1974 and administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Safe Drinking Water Act oversees states, communities, and water suppliers who implement the drinking water standards at the local level.

The act’s regulations apply to every public water system in the United States but do not include private wells serving less than 25 people.

According to the EPA, there are more than 160,000 public water systems in the United States.

Western Water Magazine

Nitrate and the Struggle for Clean Drinking Water
March/April 2013

This printed issue of Western Water discusses the problems of nitrate-contaminated water in small disadvantaged communities and possible solutions.

Western Water Magazine

Preserving Quantity and Quality: Groundwater Management in California
May/June 2011

This printed issue of Western Water examines groundwater management and the extent to which stakeholders believe more efforts are needed to preserve and restore the resource.

Western Water Magazine

Pervasive and Persistent: Constituents of Growing Concern
January/February 2011

This printed issue of Western Water, based on presentations at the November 3-4, 2010 Water Quality Conference in Ontario, Calif., looks at constituents of emerging concerns (CECs) – what is known, what is yet to be determined and the potential regulatory impacts on drinking water quality.

Western Water Magazine

Desalination: A Drought Proof Supply?
July/August 2009

This printed issue of Western Water examines desalination – an issue that is marked by great optimism and controversy – and the expected role it might play as an alternative water supply strategy.

Western Water Magazine

Small Water Systems, Big Challenges
May/June 2008

This printed copy of Western Water examines the challenges facing small water systems, including drought preparedness, limited operating expenses and the hurdles of complying with costlier regulations. Much of the article is based on presentations at the November 2007 Small Systems Conference sponsored by the Water Education Foundation and the California Department of Water Resources.

Western Water Magazine

From Source to Tap: Protecting California’s Drinking Water
November/December 2006

This issue of Western Water looks at some of the issues facing drinking water providers, such as compliance with increasingly stringent treatment requirements, the need to improve source water quality and the mission of continually informing consumers about the quality of water they receive.

Western Water Magazine

Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products: An Rx for Water Quality Problems?
July/August 2004

This issue of Western Water examines PPCPs – what they are, where they come from and whether the potential exists for them to become a water quality problem. With the continued emphasis on water quality and the fact that many water systems in the West are characterized by flows dominated by effluent contributions, PPCPs seem likely to capture interest for the foreseeable future.

Western Water Magazine

Confronting a Legacy of Contamination: Perchlorate
May/June 2003

This issue of Western Water examines the problem of perchlorate contamination and its ramifications on all facets of water delivery, from the extensive cleanup costs to the search for alternative water supplies. In addition to discussing the threat posed by high levels of perchlorate in drinking water, the article presents examples of areas hard hit by contamination and analyzes the potential impacts of forthcoming drinking water standards for perchlorate.

Western Water Magazine

Managing the Colorado River
November/December 1999

Drawn from a special stakeholder symposium held in September 1999 in Keystone, Colorado, this issue explores how we got to where we are today on the Colorado River; an era in which the traditional water development of the past has given way to a more collaborative approach that tries to protect the environment while stretching available water supplies.