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State budget delays Salinas Valley groundwater contamination study

Posted by: Maven on June 18, 2009 at 7:08 am

From the Salinas Californian:

State water officials took the first formal step Tuesday toward a study of nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Salinas Valley and the Tulare Lake Basin. But the $2 million for the project is tied up in the state’s financial problems and likely won’t be available until a budget is adopted to close the $24 billion shortfall.

The pilot program was authorized in 2008 legislation that targeted the Salinas Valley and the Tulare Lake Basin for the study of nitrates that contaminate groundwater supplies in various areas of these regions.

Nitrates are a chemical that can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, which can causes serious illness and death, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sources of the contamination can range from septic tanks to fertilizers. The proposed study is supposed to identify the sources of contamination and how much they contribute and then determine ways to reduce it, including possible alternative water supplies, and the cost of solutions.

Read more from the Salinas Californian by clicking here.

June 18, 2009 · Filed Under Groundwater

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