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Nitrates and Water Contamination in California's Central Valley
California’s Central Valley is well-known for its agriculture fields. Nitrogen fertilizers used in these fields can leach into water systems, which tend to have outdated water infrastructure, through the use of intensive irrigation systems[1]. Most of these water systems are generally in areas of low-income communities, and studies done in the San Joaquin Valley shows the disproportionate effect on low-income communities that are exposed to nitrates in water,[2] as about 95% of people in the San Joaquin Valley rely on groundwater for drinking[1]. The prevalence of low-income earners in the Central Valley impedes the ability of the people in the community to leave, or to update the outdated water infrastructure or operate water-filtering systems. Non-compliant water wells are demarcated on maps, which means they are contaminated and have not been addressed[3]. Considering the demographics, such as population, race, income, education, and occupation, of the Central Valley is important in demonstrating the environmental injustice of nitrate exposure in the Central Valley; the information provided will be from the US Consensus Bureau.
Nitrates interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, and can have severe health effects on pregnant women, infants under 6 months, and children who drink formula using tap water[4]. Because nitrates interfere with blood's capacity to carry oxygen, infants are at high risk of death from blue-baby syndrome, which can occur when there are high nitrate levels in the blood that are untreated[4]. Community Water Center (CWC) is a non-profit organization based in Tulare County that is actively working in communities by organizing, educating, and advocating for access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley[5]. CWC is the only non-profit organization working with communities in San Joaquin Valley affected by contaminated water.
San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley, within the Central Valley of California, is made up of eight counties that are well-known for agriculture[6]. Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers and irrigated agriculture is common, and according to Thomas Harter, the Chair for Water Resources Management and Policy at UC Davis, “more than 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year may leach into groundwater beneath irrigated lands, usually as nitrates”[7]. Because these communities are cut off from larger water distribution, they are dependent on wells[8], making groundwater a source of drinking water for 90% of San Joaquin Valley's residents[9]. The residents of San Joaquin Valley are 63.6% Latino, according to US Census data from July 2015[10].
Nitrates have found their way into the aquifers around the San Joaquin Valley, affecting over 250,000 people in communities that are poor and rural[8]. Between the 1950s and 1980s, when nitrogen fertilizer use grew sixfold, nitrate concentrations in groundwater increased 2.5 times[11]. In 2006, the State Water Resources Board took samples from domestic wells in Tulare County; they found that 40% of 181 domestic wells had nitrate levels above the 10 mg/L legal limit[6]. Though locals have typically used filters for their water, the filters need to be installed correctly and replaced frequently, which may not be economically feasible for the residents in Orosi[12].
Demographics
Demographics are helpful in demonstrating a case of environmental injustices. The data can be used to provide a quantitative analysis of distribution of water pollution, in this case water contamination of nitrates. The data below contains information from each county of California’s Central Valley, which is composed of to valleys the Sacramento Valley and the San Joaquin Valley.
Sacramento Valley lies on the Northern part of California’s Central Valley. It contains 10 counties: Tehama County, Butte County, Glenn County, Colusa County, Yuba County, Sutter County, Yolo County, Sacramento County, Shasta County, and Placer County.[13]
1.Tehama County has a population of 63,152 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 54,591 (86.4%) |
| Black or African American | 321 (0.5%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,846 (2.9%) |
| Asian | 809 (1.3%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 126 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14,813 (23.5%) |
Educational Attainment is 82.3% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 25.3%
- High school graduate: 17.0%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 14.0%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.6%
The Median Household Income is $41,001.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 23,704
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 1,554 (6.6%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 23,127[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 1,645 (7.1%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 19.8%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 14[18]
2. Butte County has a population of 222,564 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 185,408 (83.3%) |
| Black or African American | 3,189 (1.4%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2,553 (1.1%) |
| Asian | 9,591 (4.3%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 405 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33,800 (15.2%) |
Educational Attainment is 88.0% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 29.6%
- High school graduate: 19.0%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 16.0%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.7%
The Median Household Income is $43,444.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 85,318
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 7,162 (8.4%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 89,411[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 3,249 (3.6%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 21.9%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 25[18]
3. Glenn County has a population of 28,029 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 23,897 (85.3%) |
| Black or African American | 271 (1.0%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 548 (2.0%) |
| Asian | 695 (2.5%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 99 (0.4%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11,094 (39.6%) |
Educational Attainment is 75.0% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
Less than high school graduate: 25.3%
High school graduate: 16.8%
Some college or associate’s degree: 16.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.7%
The Median Household Income is $39,349.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 9,497
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 843 (8.9%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 10,523[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 2,031 (19.3%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 20.8%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 7[18]
4. Colusa County has a population of 21,396 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 18,188 (85.0%) |
| Black or African American | 151 (0.7%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 231 (1.1%) |
| Asian | 419 (2.0%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 39 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12,277 (57.4%) |
Educational Attainment is 68.2% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 17.3%
- High school graduate: 11.2%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 8.5%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.3%
The Median Household Income is $52,168.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 6,966
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 303 (4.3%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 8,837[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 2,425 (27.4%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 15.0%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 7[18]
5. Yuba County has a population of 73,437 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 51,470 (70.1%) |
| Black or African American | 2,456 (3.3.%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,147 (1.6%) |
| Asian | 5,277 (7.2%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 238 (0.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19,611 (26.7%) |
Educational Attainment is 80.8% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 28.9%
- High school graduate: 19.4%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 13.0%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.1%
The Median Household Income is $46,892.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 25,139
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 1,423 (5.7%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 25,499[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 1,338 (5.2%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 21.9%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 9[18]
6. Sutter County has a population of 95,247 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 66,258 (69.6%) |
| Black or African American | 2,049 (2.2%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,033 (1.1%) |
| Asian | 14,044 (14.7%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 288 (0.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 28,261 (29.7%) |
Educational Attainment is 78.5% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 25.4%
- High school graduate: 15.3%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 10.8%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.9%
The Median Household Income is $52,017.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 31,917
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 1,672 (5.2%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 37,520[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 3,318 (8.8%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 17.8%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 7[18]
7. Yolo County has a population of 207,320 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 137,009 (66.1%) |
| Black or African American | 5,409 (2.6%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,955 (0.9%) |
| Asian | 28,324 (13.7%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 1,021 (0.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 64,526 (31.1%) |
Educational Attainment is 85.5% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 25.5%
- High school graduate: 15.6%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 11.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.5%
The Median Household Income is $54,989.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 71,997
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 5,336 (7.4%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 92,806[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 3,815 (4.1%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 19.9%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 9[18]
8. Sacramento County has a population of 1,465,832 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 873,442 (59.6%) |
| Black or African American | 145,959 (10.0%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 11,633 (0.8%) |
| Asian | 220,485 (15.0%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 15,148 (1.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 326,742 (22.3%) |
Educational Attainment is 86.6% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 31.5%
- High school graduate: 18.4%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 12.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.4%
The Median Household Income is $55,987.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 522,596
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 33,699 (6.4%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 633,897[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 5,308 (0.8%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 18.2%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 28[18]
9. Shasta County has a population of 178,942 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 155,251 (86.8%) |
| Black or African American | 1,788 (1.0%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 4,654 (2.6%) |
| Asian | 4,735 (2.6%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 389 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16,384 (9.2%) |
Educational Attainment is 89.3% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 28.8%
- High school graduate: 16.6%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 12.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.2%
The Median Household Income is $44,620.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 69,375
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 5,115 (7.4%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 69,261[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 1,626 (2.3%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 18.0%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 19[18]
10. Placer County has a population of 366,280 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 306,371 (83.6) |
| African or African American | 5,183 (1.4%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,982 (0.5%) |
| Asian | 24,468 (6.7%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 525 (0.1%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 49,158 (13.4%) |
Educational Attainment is 94.1% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 20.3%
- High school graduate: 11.5%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 8.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.7%
The Median Household Income is $73,948.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 135,456
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 5,535 (4.1%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 162,616[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 956 (0.6%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 8.9%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 16[18]
San Joaquin Valley lies on the Southern part of California’s Central Valley. It contains 8 counties: San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Merced County, Madera County, Fresno County, Kings County, Tulare County, and Kern County.[13]
1.San Joaquin County has a population of 708,554 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 403,891 (57.0%) |
| Black or African American | 50,263 (7.1%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 4,652 (0.7%) |
| Asian | 104,763 (14.8%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 3,867 (0.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 284,168 (40.1%) |
Educational Attainment is 78.0% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 26.4%
- High school graduate: 16.0%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 11.6%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.3%
The Median Household Income is $53,274.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 219,073
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 13,557 (6.2%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 280,460[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 13,988 (5.0%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 18.6%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 21[18]
2. Stanislaus County has a population of 527,367 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 397,080 (75.3%) |
| Black or African American | 14,335 (2.7%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 4,183 (0.8%) |
| Asian | 28,560 (5.4%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 4,003 (0.8%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 230,087 (43.6%) |
Educational Attainment is 77.2% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 28.1%
- High school graduate: 17.3%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 12.4%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.1%
The Median Household Income is $50,125.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 169,196
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 10,547 (6.2%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 208,428[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 11,559 (5.5%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 20.3%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 22[18]
3. Merced County has a population of 263,885 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 161,431 (61.2%) |
| Black or African American | 9,020 (3.4%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,787 (0.7%) |
| Asian | 19,904 (7.5%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 546 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 150,222 (56.9%) |
Educational Attainment is 67.9% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 27.4%
- High school graduate: 18.4%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 15.8%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.7%
The Median Household Income is $42,462.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 77,692
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 5,718 (7.4%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 96,170[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 13,038 (13.6%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 26.1%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 19[18]
4. Madera County has a population of 708,554 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 125,082 (81.7%) |
| Black or African American | 5,313 (3.5%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2,325 (1.5%) |
| Asian | 3,252 (2.1%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 263 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 85,245 (55.6%) |
Educational Attainment is 70.8% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 27.7%
- High school graduate: 20.3%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 13.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.6%
The Median Household Income is $45,073.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 43,159
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 3,656 (8.5%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 53,032[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 10,545 (19.9%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 23.5%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 13[18]
5. Fresno County has a population of 956,749 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 570,451 (59.6%) |
| Black or African American | 48,499 (5.1%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 9,796 (1.0%) |
| Asian | 93,499 (9.8%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 2,010 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 494,077 (51.6%) |
Educational Attainment is 73.5% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 36.2%
- High school graduate: 21.5%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 15.2%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.4%
The Median Household Income is $45,233.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 296,305
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 23,689 (8.0%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 374,564[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 38,869 (10.4%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 26.8%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 27[18]
6. Kings County has a population of 150,998 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 103,289 (68.4%) |
| Black or African American | 9,397 (6.2%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1,993 (1.3%) |
| Asian | 5,602 (3.7%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 382 (0.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 79,452 (52.6%) |
Educational Attainment is 72.2% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 30.3%
- High school graduate: 22.2%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 12.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.7%
The Median Household Income is $46,481.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 41,554
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 2,898 (7.0%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 50,960[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 7,898 (15.5%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 22.6%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 7[18]
7. Tulare County has a population of 454,033 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 367,167 (80.9%) |
| Black or African American | 7,846 (1.7%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 6,089 (1.3%) |
| Asian | 15,427 (3.4%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 615 (0.1%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 283,533 (62.4%) |
Educational Attainment is 68.4% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 35.4%
- High school graduate: 22.5%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 15.1%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.8%
The Median Household Income is $42,031.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 133,570
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 10,235 (7.7%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 170,780[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 33,244 (19.5%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 28.1%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 59[18]
8. Kern County has a population of 865,736 according to the report of 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates by United States Census Bureau.
| White | 646,683 (74.7%) |
| Black or African American | 49,021 (5.7%) |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 10,086 (1.2%) |
| Asian | 39,550 (4.6%) |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 1,314 (0.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino | 441,496 (51.0%) |
Educational Attainment is 73.4% of high school graduate or higher.[15]
Poverty rate for the population 25 Years and over for which poverty status is determined by educational attainment level:
- Less than high school graduate: 30.7%
- High school graduate: 18.5%
- Some college or associate’s degree: 14.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.6%
The Median Household Income is $49,026.[16]
Income and Benefits (In 2015 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars):
Total Households 259,700
Earnings of less than $10,000 is 17,888 (6.9%) people
Industry (Civilian employed population 16 years and over) 327,294[16]
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 54,628 (16.7%)
Poverty (Individuals below poverty level): 23.5%[17]
Census-Designated Place (CDP): 48[18]
**Since this article is going to be about nitrates and water contamination, we will be including information on specific water wells that have been directly impacted by nitrates. [19]
Large Contributors of Nitrates in Agriculture
Fertilizer runoffs contributes roughly 90% of all nitrate inputs to the alluvial groundwater system. Within agriculture, the two major factors are High-Intensity Crop Production and Large Dairy Herds.
High-Intensity Crop Production Within the past century, farmers have been increasing the amount of production to meet the high demand that a developed country requires. To help increase output and efficiency, farmers have been increasing the amount of fertilizers used, which means increasing the level of nitrates being used. However only a fraction of the nitrogen in fertilizers is efficiently used to help produce crops. This has led to a large amount of nitrates and phosphates in the waters, contaminating and causing eutrophication of possible drinking water.
Large Dairy Herds Roaming dairy herds before the exponential demand of meat products and dairy has contributed an insignificant amount of nitrate pollution to the underlying groundwater systems. However, within the past few decades, the increasing amount of cattle has been one of the main contributors of nitrate contamination in the groundwater systems of California. Roughly around 1960, cattle were openly grazing pastures, and because of the large amount of lands which they roamed manure was not intensively managed. However, even though manure was not closely managed, "Nitrogen excretion and deposition in pastures likely did not exceed pasture buffering capacity and had no significant leaching to groundwater" It was not until the mid 1970s when the transition to dry-lot and free stall-based dairy farming, coupled with irrigated forage crops, that Dairy Herds were a contributor to nitrogen contamination.
Possible Solutions and Alternatives
The large dairy herds create manure, which is used to create the fertilizers that is applied to the crop fields. Because of the exponential demand for crops, farmers have been looking to lower the costs of production. Using manure based fertilizers is cost effective since its a by-product of large dairy farms and herds.
Health Impacts of Nitrates
No one was assigned this section and will probably be developed further by the entire group. We will discuss the health implications of nitrates here, specifically any syndromes, diseases, or symptoms that occur with high nitrate levels in the blood[20].
Addressing Nitrate in Groundwater
Groundwater contaminated by nitrate can be treated by with reverse osmosis, resin-based processes or blended with higher quality water before being placed in a water supply distribution systems.[21] New technological innovations have also allowed for more effective treatments, such as biological treatment in the form of fixed beds, fluidized bed, and membrane bioreactors. [22] However, costs can impede groundwater remediation, as groundwater treatment is expensive, and can take years, decades or longer to remediate contaminated groundwater sites.[22]
High fixed costs of remediation affect small community water systems (CWS) disproportionally, as they usually lack the infrastructure and economies of scale of larger systems, and often times cannot afford to treat or find alternative supplies for a contaminated drinking water source.[22] The communities most affected are small, rural and disadvantaged, making the in-affordability of water treatment a focus of environmental justice concerns.[22]Even if the disadvantaged communities (DACs) manage to acquire the funding to improve their drinking water systems, they often cannot afford the operation and maintenance (O&M) costs necessary for adequate drinking water infrastructures.[23] This is especially due to the fact that small rural communities face higher per capita O&M costs and capital costs that result in higher water rates. [23]
Recommendations for Addressing Nitrate in Groundwater
In a 2013 report to the Legislature on recommendations for addressing nitrate in groundwater, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) made 15 recommendations to address the issues associated with nitrate contaminated groundwater.[23] These recommendations reflect a comprehensive strategy focused on the following four categories:
- Providing safe drinking water
- Monitoring, assessment and notification
- Nitrogen tracking and reporting
- Protecting groundwater [23]
Although recommendations in this report specifically address groundwater nitrate contamination in the Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley pilot project study areas, they may also be implemented statewide in other areas with nitrate-contaminated groundwater.[23]
Providing Safe Drinking Water
One of the biggest impediments to providing safe drinking water to DACs impacted by nitrate contamination is the absence of a stable, long-term source of funding. The State Water Board makes five recommendations regarding the provision of safe drinking water, which include the creation of a stable funding source integrated with institutional changes, in order to provide long-term safe drinking water infrastructure and alternative solutions for the small DACs impacted by nitrate contamination.[23]
Monitoring, Assessment and Notification
Critical to effectively managing groundwater quality is the presence of a groundwater monitoring and assessment program. The recommendations that focus on monitoring, assessment and notification require the development and management of data needed to identify and manage nitrate contaminated ground water.[23] These recommendations particularly focus on the following:
- defining nitrate high-risk areas in order to prioritize regulatory oversight and assistance
- notifying groundwater users in nitrate high-risk areas
- requiring property owners to sample their well as a part of a property title transfer or purchase[23]
Nitrogen Tracking and Reporting
Due to the fact that nitrogen fertilizing material application is a primary source of nitrate contamination, the State Water Board recommends the development and implementation of a system that can track and report the nitrogen mass balance, in order to manage the application of nitrogen fertilizing materials.[23]
Protecting Groundwater
The State Water Board recommends the development of an effective system for minimizing discharges of nitrates to groundwater in order to maintain a safe drinking water supply by preventing the need for costly groundwater treatment or new well constructions. The development of an effective system would require the following:
- the establishment of a nitrogen management training and certification program recognizing the importance of water quality protection
- the continuation and improvement of agricultural nitrate education and research programs
- the convening of a panel of experts to recommend improvements in agricultural nitrate control programs, and implementing the recommendations
- the evaluation of the effectiveness of existing permits to address nitrate contamination in high-risk areas in order to improve permitting activities.[23]
Funding Required for Addressing Nitrates in Groundwater
Notes and References
[24]
[25]
[26]
Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page without content in them (see the help page).https://phys.org/news/2012-06-genetic-alternative-fertilizer.html http://www.reopure.com/nitratinfo.html https://www.soils.org/discover-soils/story/agricultural-contribution-nitrates-california-groundwater https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/NitrateAndAgInCA-booklet.pdfCite error: There are <ref> tags on this page without content in them (see the help page).
- ^ a b Balazs, Carolina L.; Morello-Frosch, Rachel (2017-03-01). "The Three R's: How Community Based Participatory Research Strengthens the Rigor, Relevance and Reach of Science". Environmental justice (Print). 6 (1). doi:10.1089/env.2012.0017. ISSN 1939-4071. PMC 3832061. PMID 24260590.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) - ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230390/.
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- ^ a b Pacific Institute (Mar 2011). "The Human Costs of Nitrate-contaminated Water in the San Joaquin Valley" (PDF). Pacific Institute.
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- ^ a b AFP (September 19, 2016). "Nitrates Poison Water in California's Central Valley". Community Water Center.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Community Water Center (Dec 2013). "Water & Health in the Valley: Nitrate Contamination of Drinking Water and the Health of San Joaquin Valley Residents" (PDF). Community Water Center.
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{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b Umbach, Kenneth W. (August 1997). "A Statistical Tour of California's Great Central Valley". California State Library, California Research Bureau. Retrieved March 01, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Race and Hispanic Origin". American FactFinder (United States Census Bureau). 2015. Retrieved March 01, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Educational Attainment". American FactFinder (United States Census Bureau). 2011-2015. Retrieved March 01, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Selected Economic Characteristics". American FactFinder (United States Census Bureau). 2011-2015. Retrieved March 01, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Poverty". American FactFinder (United States Census Bureau). 2011-2015. Retrieved March 01, 2017.
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- ^ a b c d "Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources. July 29, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Recommendations Addressing Nitrate in Groundwater" (PDF). California Department of Water Resources. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Nitrates poison water in California's Central Valley".
- ^ http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1593/htm.
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