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New study looks at groundwater quality in the North San Francisco Bay region

Posted by: Maven on September 4, 2010 at 8:17 am

From the USGS:

“High concentrations of naturally occurring inorganic constituents – including arsenic, boron and lead – are found in about 14 percent of the primary aquifers in Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report prepared in cooperation with the California Water Resources Control Board. Primary aquifers are those that supply public-drinking water.

“High concentration” means that a level is above a health-based benchmark, some of which are regulatory. The USGS assessment analyzed untreated groundwater from wells, not water delivered to consumers through the tap. Regulatory benchmarks are enforced only for water delivered to consumers.

Arsenic was detected above the U.S. Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 parts per billion in about 10 percent of the primary aquifers. Boron was detected above the California Notification Level, a non-regulatory benchmark of one part per million, in about 4 percent of the primary aquifers. And lead was detected at high concentrations in about 2 percent of the primary aquifers. The U.S. Action Level for lead is 15 parts per billion. … “

Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.

September 4, 2010 · Filed Under Bay Area

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