Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
November 13, 2008
4. Water Quality –
Technology finds more pesticides
Well water a pipe dream
YC schools have relied on bottled water for 6 years
Marysville Appeal Democrat
Chemical firm to pay Sacramento County
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Technology finds more pesticides
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Improved testing methods have led to an increase in pesticides detected in the New and
The study found 25 pesticides in the water of the rivers and 34 in the sediments around the rivers. Earlier studies in 2001 to 2003 found only 18 pesticides in the water and 19 in the sediments.
Despite the New River’s history of pollution problems, pesticides were found in higher concentrations in the
Doug Barnum, a science coordinator with the USGS office in the
“It’s kind of like getting a better set of glasses to see better,” Barnum said.
The New and Alamo rivers originate near the Colorado River Delta in
While this study only focused on the rivers, previous studies have shown very few of the pesticides make it to the
Both rivers have histories of pollutant problems and are listed as “impaired” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meaning they don’t meet water quality standards.
Of the four most common compounds found in the rivers, three are considered low-toxicity pesticides, meaning they have a small impact to humans and wildlife in the area, according to the study. But several of the less-common compounds, when detected, were in high enough concentrations to harm aquatic life, according to the study.
Because of the way the rivers are fed by agricultural run-off water, there is no way to really prevent pesticides from entering the water supply.
“The only way is to have the farmers not use them anymore,” said Mike King, the Imperial Irrigation District’s Water Department Manager, about the pesticides.
In 2006, 1.1 million kilograms of pesticide active ingredients were applied to more than 60 different crops along the New and
While the IID has done some work with the rivers in the past, King said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was actually the governing body with regard to the rivers. If the IID wants to do anything with the rivers, it must first get permission from the corps, King said.
There have been several efforts over the years to clean the sewage in the
DDT was a pesticide used in the 1930s through 1960s. It was banned in the
But samples in this study detected DDT among 14 total organochlorides, which are pesticides with similar chemical structures to DDT, in the sediment around the rivers.
“DDT just hangs around for a long time,” Nickles said.#
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2008/11/13/local_news/news01.txt
Well water a pipe dream
YC schools have relied on bottled water for 6 years
Marysville Appeal Democrat – 11/13/08
By Ryan McCarthy
Until the wish list comes true, bottled water will have to do.
And at Central Gaither and Barry elementary schools in the
"They thought that was the coolest," Barry school principal Tom Walters said of students reaction to the bottled water supplies that began a half-dozen years ago.
Wells in the area produce hard water rich in minerals that doesn't meet new federal standards. Moreover, Steve Plaxco, director of maintenance for the
A recent "wish list" survey of improvements sought by schools in the Yuba City Unified district included Barry Elementary's desire for a permanent water supply, among other needs.
Plaxco said yet-to-be developed technology could solve the water issue and one day make bottled water unnecessary. But until then the two schools are expected to continue the arrangement that has Barry Elementary averaging monthly bottled water use of 935 gallons and
New wells were drilled at both schools several years ago in an unsuccessful try to find better water.
"I don't see an end to the bottled water," principal Walters said.
Drinking fountains at both school sites - located outside the
Debbie Everett, principal at
Plaxco said the school district contracts with a
He praised the state Department of Health Services and its
"Those guys have been great," he said.
"They really worked with us," Plaxco added, "to see what is the best solution."#
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/water_71063___article.html/bottled_schools.html
Chemical firm to pay Sacramento County
Sacramento
By Loretta Kalb and Chris Bowman
A large chemical manufacturer has agreed to pay
Officials with Georgia-Pacific Chemicals said the plant that produces wood adhesives and industrial resins did not release anything into the environment that posed a health risk to the public or the facility's estimated 20 workers.
County environmental regulators, however, said they had no way of telling, because the company failed to provide the reports that would have allowed regulators to monitor waste disposal at the 25-acre spread on
Major generators of toxic waste are required by law to obtain agency permits and routinely file public reports on the volume and type of chemicals on site to help enforcers detect potential hazards.
"The management and treatment of hazardous waste is a violation that is deemed very serious," said Dennis Green, chief of the county's hazardous materials division. "If it's not done properly, there is a potential that it can be a danger to employees and the environment."
The penalty is believed to be the largest of its kind for a local environmental enforcement agency in the
The fine stems from health and safety violations the county issued in July for failing to get permits, conduct daily inspections of hazardous waste storage tanks or properly manage tanks that previously held toxic waste.
Green estimated that Georgia-Pacific saved $300,000 a year for three to four years by failing to haul its wastes to expensive disposal sites licensed to handle hazardous materials.
The company didn't have the permits required to dispose of the materials on site, he said. Yet, in some instances, the company diluted caustic and distillate wastes within hazardous waste limits before draining them down the sewer, according to the county enforcement order.
The county found no evidence that the company was dumping hazardous materials, Green said.
The company acknowledged it enjoyed an economic benefit by not following requirements, Green said, and the large fine was based in part on that financial gain to create "an even playing field" for other chemical plants that follow the environmental rules.
Julie Davis, a spokeswoman with Georgia-Pacific headquarters in
"Since this was uncovered in May 2007, we've been working with the county to address their concerns,"
The penalties are to be paid in four installments over 30 months. #
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1387231.html
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