2022 Drinking Water Needs Assessment

The Needs Assessment is comprised of Risk, Affordability, and Cost Assessment components. Enhancement of the 2022 Needs Assessment consisted of internal workgroup recommendations and a public workshop in February 2022, all of which were detailed in a publicly available white paper. The public feedback was incorporated into the final methodology and results. Three different water … Continue reading “2022 Drinking Water Needs Assessment”

2023 Drinking Water Needs Assessment

The Needs Assessment is comprised of four core components: the Failing Water System List (Failing list), the Risk Assessment, the Cost Assessment, and the Affordability Assessment. Public input that the State Water Board received via workshops held in 2022 and February 2023 helped improve the 2023 Needs Assessment.

Working Draft Scientific Basis Report for New and Revised Flow Requirements on the Sacramento River and Tributaries, Eastside Tributaries to the Delta, Delta Outflow, and Interior Delta Operations

This working draft Scientific Basis Report (Report) is being prepared to support the update of the Bay-Delta Plan’s protection of fish and wildlife beneficial uses in the Sacramento River watershed and related areas, known as Phase II.1 This update considers four categories of requirements: (1) new inflow requirements for the Sacramento River, its tributaries, and … Continue reading “Working Draft Scientific Basis Report for New and Revised Flow Requirements on the Sacramento River and Tributaries, Eastside Tributaries to the Delta, Delta Outflow, and Interior Delta Operations”

70 analyte PFAS test method highlights need for expanded testing of PFAS in drinking water

n this community-led pilot study we sought to investigate the utility of expanded per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing for drinking water, using a targeted analysis for 70 PFAS and the Total Oxidizable Precursor (TOP) Assay which can indicate the presence of precursor PFAS. PFAS were detected in 30 out of 44 drinking water samples … Continue reading “70 analyte PFAS test method highlights need for expanded testing of PFAS in drinking water”

Source area management practices as remediation tool to address groundwater nitrate pollution in drinking supply wells

Nitrate in drinking water may cause serious health problems for consumers. Agricultural activities are known to be the main source of groundwater nitrate contaminating rural domestic and urban public water supply wells in farming regions. Management practices have been proposed to reduce the amount of nitrate in groundwater, including improved nutrient management practices and “pump … Continue reading “Source area management practices as remediation tool to address groundwater nitrate pollution in drinking supply wells”

Evaluating the hidden costs of drinking water treatment technologies

Drinking water treatment technologies are largely evaluated on the basis of metrics such as contaminant removal efficiency, capital costs and health impacts. However, the potential for safe water technologies to lead to positive health outcomes depends greatly on user satisfaction, consistent and sustained operation, and financial viability. In this Perspective, we argue for the importance … Continue reading “Evaluating the hidden costs of drinking water treatment technologies”