Regional Water Board Issues Rare Citation for Contaminated Drinking Water

It's a rare instance when groundwater contamination can be linked to a specific polluter and specific practices, but the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has ordered a Monterey County landowner and grower to provide a drinkable water supply. 

The rural community of San Lucas has been living on bottled water for at least two years, and the landowner and grower have already voluntarily agreed to provide water. But this still represents a big step in IDing an agricultural polluter. 

"This is one of the rare cases in the state where the Regional [Water Quality Control] Board has found the responsible party," says Bob Fredenburg, chief consultant to the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxics Committee. "This is an interesting case. It goes to, 'Well, what if we do hold people responsible?"

The Water Board reported that the execssive nitrate levels are the result of fertilizer use on Las Colinas Ranch.  Read my original post about this news here.

This is the subject on my continuing reporting for my fellowship project. 

Photo by stevendepolo via Flickr.