[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATER QUALITY -9/23/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

September 23, 2008

 

4. Water Quality -

 

EPA says rocket fuel pollutant perchlorate can remain in water

The ingredient contaminates water in California and 34 other states. The EPA says removing it wouldn't lead to a 'meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction'

Associated Press

 

7 companies ordered to pay for groundwater cleanup

The Associated Press

 

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EPA says rocket fuel pollutant perchlorate can remain in water

The ingredient contaminates water in California and 34 other states. The EPA says removing it wouldn't lead to a 'meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction'

Associated Press – 9/23/08

 

WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency says there's no need to rid drinking water of a toxic rocket fuel ingredient that has fouled water supplies around the country, including in California.

The EPA's conclusion is in a draft document not yet made public but reviewed Monday by the Associated Press.

 

Perchlorate has been found in at least 395 sites in 35 states at levels high enough to interfere with thyroid function and pose developmental health risks, particularly for babies and fetuses, according to some scientists.

The EPA document says that mandating a cleanup level for perchlorate would not result in a "meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems."

Perchlorate is particularly widespread in California and the Southwest, where it's been found in groundwater and in the Colorado River, a drinking-water source for 20 million people. It also has been found in lettuce and other foods.

In absence of federal action, states have acted on their own. In 2007, California adopted a drinking-water standard of 6 parts per billion.

Massachusetts has set a drinking-water standard of 2 parts per billion.#

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-perc23-2008sep23,0,2419207.story

 

7 companies ordered to pay for groundwater cleanup

The Associated Press – 9/22/08

LOS ANGELES—Several businesses have been ordered to either pay $500,000 to clean up a contaminated site in the San Fernando Valley or prevent the contamination from reaching drinking water wells.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday cited seven North Hollywood companies that refused to participate in a $1.3 million settlement the agency reached with other companies to clean up the site.

 

A system to remove contaminants from groundwater has been in place in North Hollywood since 1989. But the EPA says the companies must contribute their fair share of the cleanup costs or find a way to prevent contaminants from reaching drinking wells.

 

Most of the businesses are recycling companies.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10533973?nclick_check=1

 

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