Friday, Mar 8 2013 4:18PM
A large number of California residents may face higher levels of arsenic in their drinking water.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set standards about the accepted level of arsenic that can remain in community water systems, but a number of poor rural communities are drinking water with higher levels than permitted, according to Quest. This is particularly true in rural California, and specifically, in the San Joaquin Valley.
Arsenic is naturally occurring in most water systems, but chronic exposure raises the risk of various cancers and health conditions. The EPA imposed new standards for arsenic levels, lowering the standard from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion, the news source explained. However, many rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley cannot afford the cost of complying with the new standards, which has resulted in unsafe levels of the element in their water.
Unlike urban residents who have access to city-managed water system services, most small rural towns get their water from groundwater wells. Research found that arsenic levels exceed 50 ppb in many of these areas, the news source reports.
Estimates from the California Department of Public Health found that roughly 30 million California residents get their groundwater resources from community water systems, raising their risk of unhealthy arsenic levels.
RCAC is offering free Arsenic and Nitrate Symposiums, March 20 in Barstow and March 21 in Ontario – funded by the California Department of Public Health. You can register online at www.rcac.org or fax the attached registration form to Mark Wiseman at 916-372-5636.
Many federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provide grants and funding to help rural communities improve infrastructure and ensure that water systems are functional and safe. However, the study underscores the need for more assistance from organizations in helping rural towns prevent and mitigate water contamination.
For more information, check out this resource: The Quest