Safe Drinking Water

Many communities in the Central Valley rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. Some communities cannot safely use groundwater for drinking water due to nitrate levels that may cause human health impacts.

Local industry and community representatives have joined to form an entirely new organization, the Kings Water Alliance, to develop a plan that will identify short-term safe drinking water solutions to residents in the region.

Drinking water solutions should be flexible and locally driven. Join us at an upcoming webinar to learn more about the program, proposed solutions, and to provide input on the best solution for YOUR community.

A new Nitrate Control Program under the groundwater quality initiative CV-SALTS is part of a strategy to address nitrate pollution in the Central Valley’s groundwater. The Kings Water Alliance is developing an Early Action Plan with solutions to provide safe drinking water supplies for local communities impacted by nitrates.

Drinking water solutions should be flexible and locally driven.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021

6:00-7:30 PM

Webinar link: https://zoom.us/j/96067663095

Webinar ID: 960 6766 3095

One-Tap Mobile : +16699006833,,96067663095#

Call In: +1 669 900 6833

The Kings Water Alliance hosted its first webinar for residents and community members to learn about nitrates in groundwater, and the work to bring safe drinking water to residents.

Workshop resources

• November 19 Webinar Recording (with Spanish closed-captioning subtitles)
• November 19 Presentation Slides
• Webinar Highlights (Digital Story Map)
• Webinar Flyer (folleto del seminario web) English/Español

Nitrate Problem Background

Nitrates seep slowly into the groundwater from fertilizers or after being discharged as wastewater from animal feedlots, industrial facilities, municipal wastewater plans or leaky septic systems. In these localized areas, nitrates are a major cause of unsafe drinking water.

Drinking water with high levels of nitrate can create a health risk, especially to infants and pregnant women. Because nitrate levels have been increasing in groundwater over the last few decades, some drinking water supplies are unhealthy and do not meet California drinking water standards.

Coming Together to Resolve the Safe Drinking Water Challenge

A group representing growers, dairies, industries, local communities, environmental organizations, and the State formed the Central Valley Salinity for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS) to work on this water quality issue.

One of the outcomes of this effort is a new Nitrate Control Program with three goals:

1. Provide safe drinking water supplies.
2. Reduce nitrate impacts to water supplies.
3. Restore groundwater quality, where reasonable and feasible.

One of the best ways to accomplish these objectives is the formation of Management Zones. These Management Zones are to be governed by local industry and community representatives.

Management Zone Formation

A Management Zone, the Kings Water Alliance (KWA), is forming to cover the Kings River region.

The first work product deliverable for the Kings Water Alliance leadership is development of an Early Action Plan that identifies short-term drinking water for residents in areas that are impacted by high nitrates. Your involvement in identifying drinking water solutions for the Plan is important.