Environmental justice and drinking water quality: are there socioeconomic disparities in nitrate levels in U.S. drinking water?

Springer Nature | January 17th, 2019

Environmental Justice Program Implementation for Lahontan Region

Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) | January 30th, 2015

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Lahontan Water Board) reviewed how environmental justice (EJ) is conducted in the region and examined new ways to impro

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Lahontan Water Board) reviewed how environmental justice (EJ) is conducted in the region and examined new ways to improve our efforts to benefit the disadvantaged communities in our region. The challenges faced by disadvantaged communities (DACs) in the Lahontan region are unique and often different than other DACs in more urban regions. This report provides an assessment of existing efforts to help DACs and catalogs EJ concerns. In addition, the report includes recommendations to enhance DACs participation in the regulatory process, expand access to funding and technical assistance, and improve water quality and drinking water.

Equity in Stormwater Investments: Measuring Community Engagement and Disadvantaged Community Benefits for Equitable Impact in the Safe Clean Water Program

Publisher not available | August 4th, 2022

The Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) reflects the will of the voters of Los Angeles County, who approved Measure W in 2018 by close to 70%. The ballot measure established

The Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) reflects the will of the voters of Los Angeles County, who approved Measure W in 2018 by close to 70%. The ballot measure established a perpetual parcel tax “to fund projects and programs to increase stormwater capture and reduce stormwater and urban runoff pollution” in Los Angeles County “to increase water supply, improve water quality, and, where appropriate, provide community enhancements such as the greening of schools, parks, and wetlands, and increased public access to rivers, lakes, and streams.” In an ordinance implementing the Safe Clean Water Program, the county Board of Supervisors included provisions to prioritize equity in implementation and affirmed an intention to address inequity in infrastructure in August 2021. Those provisions gave rise to this report, which provides advice drawn from research and stakeholder engagement to the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD) for measuring community engagement and Disadvantaged Community Benefits to better achieve the equitable impact sought by the SCWP. As part of a broader SCWP Metrics and Monitoring Study (MMS) commissioned by the LACFCD, we were charged with conducting research, consulting with stakeholders, and giving advice to the SCWP for metrics to measure community engagement and Disadvantaged Community Benefits.

Erosion and Sediment Manual

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | June 4th, 2017

Engineers in the Bureau of Reclamation's Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group provide technical assistance and conduct studies to meet the needs of other Reclamation

Engineers in the Bureau of Reclamation's Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group provide technical assistance and conduct studies to meet the needs of other Reclamation offices and of domestic and international water resources agencies. In addition to using the latest state-of-the art technology, engineers in the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group often have to develop new technology, methods, and computer programs for solving erosion, sedimentation, and river hydraulic problems. All the authors of the Erosion and Sedimentation Manual are members of the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group. Information, computer programs, and materials included in the manual are based on proven technology existing in the literature and some of them were developed by the authors for solving practical engineering problems. The objectives of writing this manual are twofold: to summarize the authors' experience and knowledge and to share with the public what they have learned and used in solving erosion and sedimentation problems. The Erosion and Sedimentation Manual is intended for engineers with basic background and knowledge in open channel hydraulics, sediment transport, and river morphology. The manual can also be used as a reference book for university professors, graduate students, and researchers for solving practical engineering problems. This manual contains nine chapters and three appendices. Each chapter is self-contained, with an introduction, summary, and a list of references. Cross references are made to avoid duplications of materials in different chapters. Basic theories, concepts, and approaches in erosion, sediment transport, river morphology, computer modeling, and field survey are reviewed and summarized in the manual. Examples are used to illustrate how to use the methods and programs contained in the manual.

Estimating Exposure of Piscivorous Birds and Sport Fish to Mercury in California Lakes Using Prey Fish Monitoring—A Predictive Tool for Managers

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | May 22nd, 2015

Numerous water bodies in California are listed under the Clean Water Act as being impaired due to mercury (Hg) contamination. The Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program

Numerous water bodies in California are listed under the Clean Water Act as being impaired due to mercury (Hg) contamination. The Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP), via the Bioaccumulation Oversight Group (BOG), has recently completed statewide surveys of contaminants in sport fish tissue from more than 250 lakes and rivers in California and throughout coastal waters. This effort focused on human health issues but did not include beneficial uses by wildlife. Many piscivorous birds such as grebes, terns, cormorants, and mergansers eat fish smaller than those that were sampled by BOG, and sport fish Hg concentrations are not always indicative of wildlife exposure to Hg; therefore, the BOG surveys could not address whether wildlife were at risk due to Hg-induced reproductive impairment in these lakes. We used western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark’s grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) as our index of wildlife exposure to Hg in California lakes. Grebes are widely distributed in lakes throughout California and, as piscivorous waterbirds, are near the top of the food chain in lakes. Additionally, grebes become flightless after they arrive at their summer locations. Thus, grebes are useful representatives for wildlife risk from local, lake-specific contaminant exposure. Grebes also breed at many lakes throughout California, making them susceptible to impaired reproduction due to local Hg contamination. We developed a tool for estimating wildlife and sport fish risk from Hg exposure based on Hg concentrations in prey fish. This quantitative tool can be used to predict Hg concentrations in grebe blood, grebe eggs, and sport fish, thus facilitating a feasible alternative for adequately estimating wildlife exposure when more comprehensive wildlife sampling is not possible. Specifically, we sampled grebes, prey fish, and sport fish simultaneously at 25 lakes throughout California during the spring and summer of 2012 and 2013 when breeding birds are particularly vulnerable to Hg-induced reproductive impairment. We selected lakes based on a combination of factors, including lakes from southern and northern California, of various sizes, shapes, and elevations, with a range of sport fish Hg exposure levels where largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) was the primary sport fish, and with a history of use by grebes. Using these factors ensured that our results are representative of a broad range of lakes and reservoirs in California and are comparable to prior BOG studies. Specifically, we addressed three management questions: Does methylmercury pose significant risks to aquatic life in a representative sample of California lakes and reservoirs? Can a correlational approach be applied on a statewide basis to estimate risks to birds? What are appropriate water-quality monitoring requirements to address methylmercury exposure in wildlife?

Estimating Lithium Concentrations in Groundwater Used as Drinking Water for the Conterminous United States

American Chemical Society (ACS) | January 2nd, 2024

Estimating Monetized Benefits of Groundwater Recharge from Stormwater Retention Practices

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | February 4th, 2016

Stormwater impacts from development have been documented extensively in peer-reviewed literature and summarized in the National Research Council’s report titled Urban S

Stormwater impacts from development have been documented extensively in peer-reviewed literature and summarized in the National Research Council’s report titled Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (National Research Council, 2009). To address these impacts, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water (OW) evaluated several potential scenarios for managing stormwater from new development and redevelopment using small stormwater retention practices. The objective of these practices is to reduce runoff volume to simulate pre-development hydrology and protect water quality. These practices are often designed to infiltrate the retained water, which can provide groundwater recharge to help maintain predevelopment groundwater levels. For the purposes of this study, infiltration was assumed, whereas in practice capture-and-use or other methods also may be applied. The purpose of the study is to inform valuation of groundwater recharge from stormwater retention in areas projected for new development and redevelopment. Retention practices can prevent the loss of natural recharge that may occur on a developed site without these practices. This study examined a simplified methodology for estimating recharge volume and used observed prices of water for monetary valuation. Groundwater recharge is just one benefit within the larger context of the costs and benefits of stormwater retention practices. The full range of potential benefits were not addressed in this study, but the full suite of benefits should be considered when comparing to an estimated cost of implementation. Costs of implementing retention practices in areas of new and redevelopment also were not addressed in this study. The estimates represent the groundwater recharge volume and value that would result if stormwater retention practices were implemented in areas within the contiguous U.S. not currently requiring stormwater retention. The stormwater retention practices were assumed to capture a specified depth of runoff, in the range of 0.5 to 2 inches (i.e. not large storm attenuation) with a goal of reducing runoff volumes to levels similar to those for pre-developed landscape conditions. This approach is commonly referred to as “green infrastructure” for stormwater management or low impact development (LID). While small storm retention that approximates predevelopment runoff could also be achieved with cisterns in those areas where infiltration is not desired or is not feasible, the option of cistern capture was not evaluated in this study. The timeframe selected for the purpose of the predictive study was the 20-year period of 2021 through 2040.

Estimating perchlorate exposure from food and tap water based on U.S. biomonitoring and occurrence data

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (Springer) | June 23rd, 2010

Human biomonitoring data show that exposure to perchlorate is widespread in the United States. The predominant source of intake is food, whereas drinking water is

Human biomonitoring data show that exposure to perchlorate is widespread in the United States. The predominant source of intake is food, whereas drinking water is a less frequent and far smaller contributor. We used spot urine samples for over 2700 subjects and estimated 24 h intake using new creatinine adjustment equations. Merging data from surveys of national health (NHANES) with drinking water monitoring (UCMR), we categorized survey participants according to their potential exposure through drinking water or food. By subtracting daily food doses of perchlorate from the oral reference dose (RfD), we derive an allowances for perchlorate in tap water for several populations. The calculated mean food perchlorate dose in the United States was 0.081 μg/kg/day compared to 0.101 μg/kg/day for those who also had a potential drinking water component. The calculated 95th percentile doses, typically falling between 0.2 and 0.4 μg/kg/day, were well below the RfD (0.7 μg/kg/day) in all populations analyzed. Children aged 6–11 years had the highest mean perchlorate doses in food (0.147 μg/kg/day), with an additional water contribution of only 0.003 μg/kg/day representing just 2% of exposure. Pregnant women had a mean food dose of 0.093 vs 0.071 μg/kg/day for all women of reproductive age. At the 95th percentile intake for both the total population and women of child-bearing age (15–44), the perchlorate contribution from food was 86% and from drinking water 14% (respectively, 30% and 5% of the RfD). At the mean for the same groups, the food to water contribution ratio is approximately 80:20. We calculate that an average 66 kg pregnant woman consuming a 90th percentile food dose (0.198 μg/kg/day) could also drink the 90th percentile of community water for pregnant women (0.033 l/kg/day) containing 15 μg/l perchlorate without exceeding the 0.7 μg/kg/day reference dose.

Estimation of groundwater residence time with deeply-derived carbon mixture considered in California

Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier) | December 16th, 2022

Groundwater has experienced long-term overdraft due to drought and human activities in California, resulting in issues of land subsidence and groundwater anthropogenic co

Groundwater has experienced long-term overdraft due to drought and human activities in California, resulting in issues of land subsidence and groundwater anthropogenic contamination. As a useful indicator of groundwater renewal rate and its residence time, groundwater age has been conventionally investigated based on 14C content and 3H concentration. However, the influence of deeply-derived (endogenic) CO2 mixture is not fully and quantitatively considered, although endogenic carbon contributes a large part of the dissolved inorganic carbon in groundwater. Combined with 3H concentration, both conventional and modified 14C-dating methods with endogenic CO2 mixture considered are employed for groundwater age determination in California. On average, the conventional groundwater 14C apparent age is overestimated by ~4.9 kyr or ~26.2 %, causing groundwater recharge rate underestimation and aquifer recovery time overestimation by ~46.0 % and ~26.2 %, respectively. High 3H concentration indicates modern water mixture in more than one fifth of groundwater samples, including those with high modified 14C apparent age (> 12 kyr, i.e., fossil groundwater) in the Central Valley and southern California, which are generally considered not to be recharged by modern water. Modern water mixture in old groundwater can potentially bring anthropogenic contamination to these groundwater resources, which should be paid attentions by the government and the managers. The results have important implications in evaluation of groundwater replenishment and its susceptibility to modern contamination in California, and in groundwater resources estimation globally.

Estrogen Receptor In Vitro Assay Linkage Studies

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | July 30th, 2018

Our Phase 1 study indicated that it would be possible to link in vitro ER assays to in vivo endpoints (Mehinto et al. 2018). These conclusions were based on several expe

Our Phase 1 study indicated that it would be possible to link in vitro ER assays to in vivo endpoints (Mehinto et al. 2018). These conclusions were based on several experiments that were performed at the University of Florida and SCCWRP. Our conclusion was that in order to see higher order effects in Menidia, the dose of estrogens in the in vivo assay needed to be above the EC50 point for the in vitro assays. However, the dose response curve for the in vivo endpoints was broad starting at 20 ng E2/L and progressing to 20, 200 and 500 ng/L. Our Phase 1 experiments did not include the resolution to reduce uncertainty in estimated quantitative in vitro to in vivo linkage factors. While the data allowed us to extrapolate those values, it was decided that the experiment should be repeated another time with more intervening estradiol concentrations, to get a better determination. A second goal of the study was to measure estrogen equivalencies at 6 locations in San Francisco Bay, testing both the water and sediments, to determine the usefulness of the approach. Results from this study will begin to enable managers to determine whether or not additional cleanup is necessary for treated effluents that are disposed into sensitive estuarine environments.