Water Deeply’s Toxic Taps series looks at the root causes of the safe drinking water crisis in California, how communities are organizing for change and what more needs to be done. https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/toxic-taps/rss en Economics Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Toxic Taps Thu, 25 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Hollin Kretzmann https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/25/california-water-officials-must-stop-putting-oil-industry-over-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/25/california-water-officials-must-stop-putting-oil-industry-over-water State regulators have allowed the oil industry to dump waste fluid in unlined pits for decades. Even amid proof that this practice has polluted groundwater, officials continue to grant the industry a pass on cleanup requirements. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Law & Policy Management & Supply Toxic Taps Thu, 04 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/04/is-groundwater-recharge-a-beneficial-use-california-law-says-no https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/04/is-groundwater-recharge-a-beneficial-use-california-law-says-no State law does not currently allow surface water to be used for groundwater recharge if the goal is managing pollution, reversing subsidence or controlling salinity. That could be a problem as local agencies begin trying to make their groundwater use more sustainable. American West Economics Energy Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Toxic Taps Mon, 01 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Stephanie Malin, Tara Opsal https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/01/colorado-voters-face-competing-measures-to-restrict-fracking-wells https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/01/colorado-voters-face-competing-measures-to-restrict-fracking-wells Amid concern about groundwater contamination, a ballot measure would force new fracking wells to keep their distance from homes. Another, sponsored by the oil industry, would force local government to compensate property owners for any lost value that results. American West Economics Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Toxic Taps Mon, 10 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Nell Green Nylen, Michael Kiparsky https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/09/10/saving-troubled-water-systems-requires-flexible-solutions-not-mandates https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/09/10/saving-troubled-water-systems-requires-flexible-solutions-not-mandates California’s five-year drought highlighted the struggles faced by small water systems. Legal and policy solutions are in the works, but they must remain adaptable to meet the needs of small communities. Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Toxic Taps Mon, 27 Aug 2018 06:00:00 +0000 Kirsten James https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/27/californias-cant-miss-chance-to-provide-safe-drinking-water-for-all https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/27/californias-cant-miss-chance-to-provide-safe-drinking-water-for-all State legislators have until the end of the month to pass the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. There is an urgent need to provide clean drinking water to the 1 million Californians who lack access to such supplies, says Kirsten James of Ceres. Agriculture Law & Policy Toxic Taps Fri, 29 Sep 2017 05:00:28 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/29/video-these-california-residents-rely-on-untreated-canal-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/29/video-these-california-residents-rely-on-untreated-canal-water In our last video in the ‘Toxic Taps’ series, we visit Southern California’s Imperial Valley, where thousands of rural residents rely on untreated water used to irrigate crops. Agriculture Toxic Taps Thu, 28 Sep 2017 05:52:53 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/28/video-toxic-taps-coachella-valley-faces-dire-water-infrastructure-needs https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/28/video-toxic-taps-coachella-valley-faces-dire-water-infrastructure-needs Many mobile home parks in the eastern Coachella Valley do not meet health and safety codes. In the latest ‘Toxic Taps’ video, we look at what’s being done to fix water and sanitation problems and improve living conditions. Agriculture Toxic Taps Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:00:35 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/26/farmworkers-dilemma-affordable-housing-but-undrinkable-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/26/farmworkers-dilemma-affordable-housing-but-undrinkable-water A sprawl of mobile home parks house 10,000 people in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, but their drinking water is chronically contaminated. Now some solutions are in sight. Agriculture Management & Supply Toxic Taps Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:07:41 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/14/why-its-legal-to-pump-untreated-canal-water-into-californians-homes https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/14/why-its-legal-to-pump-untreated-canal-water-into-californians-homes In the Imperial Valley, nearly 3,000 homes are dependent on raw canal water for showering, washing and other household uses. State regulators sanction the arrangement, but others are concerned about health risks. Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Toxic Taps Thu, 31 Aug 2017 03:00:22 +0000 Erica Gies https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/31/why-californias-nitrate-problem-will-take-decades-to-fix https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/31/why-californias-nitrate-problem-will-take-decades-to-fix The state has a long-term plan to clean up nitrate-contaminated groundwater, but farmers say more research is still needed and environmental groups think the proposal isn’t strong enough. Toxic Taps Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:41:59 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/29/video-toxic-taps-a-young-california-mayor-fights-for-clean-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/29/video-toxic-taps-a-young-california-mayor-fights-for-clean-water In the fifth video in our “Toxic Taps” series, we talk with José Gurrola, the 23-year-old mayor of Arvin, California, about the town’s fight for clean water. Agriculture Innovation Solutions Toxic Taps Thu, 24 Aug 2017 03:00:09 +0000 Tara Lohan, Erica Gies https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/24/california-towns-tackle-nitrate-pollution-with-local-solutions https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/24/california-towns-tackle-nitrate-pollution-with-local-solutions It will take decades to slow nitrate contamination in groundwater from industrial agriculture in parts of the state of California, so communities are taking matters into their own hands to get clean drinking water. Law & Policy Toxic Taps Fri, 18 Aug 2017 05:00:00 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/18/video-toxic-taps-meet-californias-newest-water-contaminant https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/18/video-toxic-taps-meet-californias-newest-water-contaminant In the fourth video in our “Toxic Taps” series, we explain what happens now that California has finally regulated a carcinogen, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, that has been contaminating groundwater for decades. Law & Policy Toxic Taps Thu, 10 Aug 2017 03:00:37 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/10/californias-plan-to-tackle-a-carcinogen-widespread-in-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/10/californias-plan-to-tackle-a-carcinogen-widespread-in-water Decades after declaring 1,2,3-TCP a carcinogen, California is finally regulating the toxin. But the cost of remediation will be high and communities are turning toward litigation to pay for water treatment. Economics Management & Supply Solutions Toxic Taps Thu, 03 Aug 2017 03:00:58 +0000 Mark Grossi https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/03/californias-biggest-drought-success-story-came-with-a-high-cost https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/03/californias-biggest-drought-success-story-came-with-a-high-cost East Porterville was the hardest-hit community during the drought, when nearly 1,000 people were without water. Efforts to find a long-term fix have been successful but came with a big price tag and some important lessons. Agriculture Law & Policy Toxic Taps Fri, 28 Jul 2017 03:10:53 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/28/video-toxic-taps-the-fight-over-funding-for-clean-drinking-water-projects https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/28/video-toxic-taps-the-fight-over-funding-for-clean-drinking-water-projects In the third video in our “Toxic Taps” series, we traveled to Sacramento, where San Joaquin Valley residents rallied to support Senate Bill 623, which would create a fund to clean toxic drinking water sources. Agriculture Law & Policy Toxic Taps Thu, 27 Jul 2017 03:00:53 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/27/unlikely-allies-push-bill-to-solve-california-drinking-water-crisis https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/27/unlikely-allies-push-bill-to-solve-california-drinking-water-crisis Agriculture and environmental justice advocates are supporting legislation to create a fund for clean drinking water projects. But disputes over key components of the bill could derail it. Agriculture Management & Supply Solutions Toxic Taps Thu, 20 Jul 2017 07:42:25 +0000 Mark Grossi https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/20/clean-water-plan-for-long-suffering-san-joaquin-valley-towns-derailed https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/20/clean-water-plan-for-long-suffering-san-joaquin-valley-towns-derailed An innovative project would see seven Tulare County towns plagued by polluted wells sharing a water treatment plant, but political infighting stalled the proposal days before a funding deadline. Agriculture Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 05:20:21 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/systemic-failure-why-1-million-californians-lack-safe-drinking-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/systemic-failure-why-1-million-californians-lack-safe-drinking-water Small, cash-strapped water districts don’t have the financial, political or technological resources to treat some of the United States’ most contaminated drinking water. Agriculture Law & Policy Management & Supply Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 03:22:01 +0000 Mark Grossi https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/the-california-drought-isnt-over-it-just-went-underground https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/the-california-drought-isnt-over-it-just-went-underground Drought conditions continue for thousands of rural residents in the San Joaquin valley who rely on groundwater. And the race to dig deeper wells is a losing game for small communities and those on private wells. Agriculture Economics Law & Policy Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 03:20:13 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/video-toxic-taps-californias-water-crisis-hits-home-in-rural-towns https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/video-toxic-taps-californias-water-crisis-hits-home-in-rural-towns In the second video in our “Toxic Taps” series, we meet residents of San Joaquin Valley towns struggling with contaminated drinking water from community water systems and private wells. Agriculture Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 03:16:32 +0000 Robin Meadows https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/living-in-californias-san-joaquin-valley-may-harm-your-health https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/living-in-californias-san-joaquin-valley-may-harm-your-health More than 1 million people in the region have been exposed to unsafe drinking water in recent years from pesticides, arsenic, nitrate and uranium. And many communities also face multiple environmental health threats. Agriculture Economics Solutions Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 03:15:53 +0000 Sasha Abramsky https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/t-is-for-toxic-danger-lurking-in-california-school-drinking-fountains https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/t-is-for-toxic-danger-lurking-in-california-school-drinking-fountains It’s too risky for tens of thousands of children in the San Joaquin Valley to drink water at their schools due to chronic contamination by chemicals, pesticides and other toxins. Agriculture Economics Law & Policy Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 03:12:34 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/getting-to-the-roots-of-californias-drinking-water-crisis https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/getting-to-the-roots-of-californias-drinking-water-crisis The epicenter of the state’s drinking water catastrophe is in the San Joaquin Valley, where 200,000 people have struggled to obtain clean, safe water for decades. Agriculture Economics Law & Policy Toxic Taps Wed, 05 Jul 2017 03:10:03 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/video-toxic-taps-why-small-california-communities-face-unsafe-water https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/07/05/video-toxic-taps-why-small-california-communities-face-unsafe-water In the first video of our “Toxic Taps” series, we hear from the people who are running small water systems in the San Joaquin Valley and the challenges they face treating contaminated water with limited resources.