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Forever Chemicals’ Now Found In State Schools

The water fountains have either been turned off, wrapped in plastic, or fitted with a device to prevent students from using them. Much of the food preparation has moved off campus, and a water jug sits in the kitchen sink, replacing the faucet. The bathrooms are covered with signs that warn students in bold, red letters: “DO NOT DRINK FROM THE SINK.”

Lead In NJ Drinking Water: Suez Adds More Anti-Corrosion Chemical To Water Supply

Suez has begun to adjust the acidity of its water and increase the amount of an anti-corrosion chemical, in the company’s latest effort to lower the amount of lead leaching into some Bergen and Hudson county residents’ drinking water.

It is the first time the company has changed the chemistry of its water since lead levels shot up to 18.3 parts per billion in the second half of 2018, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 15-parts-per-billion threshold for action.

OPINION: In Going After Trump, California Is Going Too Far With Environmental Legislation

Senate Bill 1 by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins would require that California ignore new scientific findings on natural resources and water issued after January 19, 2017, the day before the Trump took office. That’s not an exaggeration. The date is actually listed in the bill 21 different times.

We cannot advance the fight for environmental quality by declaring that all science stopped on a specific date. If it’s dumb for the President to close his eyes to science, it’s dumber for us to follow him down that rabbit hole.

But SB 1 is not just dumb, it’s dangerous

Growing Water In the Desert

In my last blog I emphasized both the imperative and the opportunities for ‘growing water’ on irrigated farms in water-scarce regions. As I come across more real-world examples from my research, I’ll share them through this blog (and please share your own stories).

I recently became aware of an analysis conducted by the Yuma County Agriculture Water Coalition that discusses the water-saving efforts of farmers in the far southwestern corner of Arizona.

Yuma County is one of the hottest and driest regions of the US, and it is also one of the most agriculturally productive.

Demolition Of San Onofre Nuclear Plant Comes Before Coastal Commission In The Fall

When the iconic domes of San Onofre’s nuclear reactors are finally demolished, “significant amounts of foundation, footings, and other existing material” are expected to remain, unseen, beneath the bluff on the ocean — at least until its stranded nuclear waste finds another home.

In October, the California Coastal Commission will consider Southern California Edison’s application to remove large portions of the above- and below-grade elements of the silent twin reactors, along with associated infrastructure, and cover what’s left with backfill.

That above-ground demolition work is scheduled to be completed within the next decade — but Edison wants to leave the below-ground structures in place until the waste is finally moved.

EPA Updates Residents On Efforts To Reduce Cross-Border Pollution

A representative from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday evening updated San Diego residents on the EPA’s efforts to reduce transboundary pollution in the water between Mexico and the United States.

Local nonprofit Citizens’ Oversight organized the informal meeting at Balboa Park, where the public had the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns.

“It was interesting to us because we live here in California, we care about the bay, we hear about the ocean and we also care about Imperial Beach because we go there a lot and we have property down there,” said San Diego resident Ray Carruthers.

Water Interests Are fighting California’s Bid To Block Trump’s Environmental Rollbacks

California is close to adopting strict Obama-era federal environmental and worker safety rules that the Trump administration is dismantling. But as the legislative session draws to a close, the proposal faces fierce opposition from the state’s largest water agencies.
To shield California from Trump administration policies, lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow state agencies to lock in protections under the federal Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Fair Labor Standards Act and other bulwark environmental and labor laws that were in place before President Trump took office in January 2017.

Two Southern California Water Districts Send Personnel to Aid Paradise Irrigation District

The Camp Fire in the community of Paradise and other locations in Butte County cut a wide swatch of destruction in the rural community. It is regarded as the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. At least 85 perish in the fire storm and it destroyed 18,804 structures. It covered almost 240 sq. miles and total damages have been estimated at $16.5 billion.

Gig Worker Barely Scraping By In Imperial Valley

Sweat lined Lyft driver Juan Hernandez’s upper lip on an oppressively hot morning recently in Imperial County’s El Centro. “Let’s see what the schedule is right now,” said Hernandez as he checked his phone for his next pickup. The 21-year-old accounting student became a Lyft driver only six days earlier.