Study Finds Hundreds of Contaminants in U.S. Drinking Water
A new report from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group shows millions of Americans are drinking water tainted with unsafe levels of chemicals, metals and radioactive substances.
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Sites Reservoir, Harvest Water Projects Could Get Big Boost as Commission Mulls $500m in Funding
The California Water Commission has $526.3 million to spend on water storage. At February’s commission meeting, options on how exactly they’ll do that were discussed, and it could mean more funding for two Northern California water projects.
The Truth About American Drinking Water: Report Shows Widespread Presence of Hazardous Chemicals
Between the ongoing controversy around fluoridated water and the recent discovery of a chemical in our water systems that may or may not be toxic, the safety of American drinking water is murky, to say the least. And today, with a new report revealing that tap water is delivering harmful chemicals like PFAS (“forever chemicals”), heavy metals, and radioactive substances to millions of Americans—often at levels far beyond what scientists consider safe—it got even murkier.
California Lacks the Capacity to Store Water That Atmospheric Rivers Dump on the State
President Donald Trump is obsessed with how California manages its water supply, demanding changes as one price of giving the state billions of dollars in aid to cope with Southern California’s deadly and destructive wildfires. However, Trump’s specific complaints are not grounded in hydrologic or managerial reality — such as his insistence that a lack of water from Northern California was a factor in either the fires’ eruption or the firefighting efforts. Hydrants dried up largely because systems were designed to deal with individual structure fires, not widespread wildfires involving thousands of buildings.
Southern California’s Wild Winter Continues With Record-Threatening Heat, Then a Chance of Rain
Southern California’s recent unusually warm temperatures are expected to ramp up over the next couple of days, peaking by midweek, when some areas will see highs reach into the low 90s. “There’s a possibility that a few locations could hit their daily record — or possibly exceed it,” said Paul Steward, a National Weather Service meteorologist in San Diego. He said a widespread ridge of high pressure will continue to strengthen through Wednesday, which is expected to be the region’s warmest day.
Utah Close to Fully Banning Fluoride in Water, Stripping Cities’ Ability to Decide
Utah appears to be the first state ready to put a full ban on fluoride in public water systems under a bill that doesn’t allow cities or communities to decide whether to add the cavity-preventing mineral.
Even in Wet Years, Wells Are Still Dry. Why Replenishing California’s Groundwater is Painfully Slow
After abundant rain and moderate snowfall this year in the northern half of the state, California’s largest reservoirs are holding more than 120% of their historical average. But underground, the state’s supply of water for drinking and irrigating crops remains depleted.
California Congressman Josh Harder Reintroduces Bill to Stop the Delta Tunnel and ‘Protect Our Water’
On Tuesday, as Sacramento attempts to advance the Delta Conveyance Project, also known as the Delta Tunnel, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) reintroduced legislation to finally kill this disastrous boondoggle once and for all. The Stop the Delta Tunnel Act would prohibit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from issuing a federal permit necessary for the project to be implemented.
Water Crisis in West Still Looms as Lakes Mead and Powell Only 35% Full
Last week’s rain and floods in California may soon give way to concerns about drought in the West as spring kicks off the region’s dry season. This year’s storms won’t erase looming drought worries across the entire southwestern U.S., experts fear. Of particular concern are the giant reservoirs of the Colorado River basin, Lakes Mead and Powell, which remain far below capacity.
Strong Reservoir and Snowpack Levels Boost California’s Water Outlook
The water outlook in California is bright, with major reservoirs exhibiting strong levels and a near-average snowpack, according to the latest data.
The state’s three largest reservoirs – Trinity, Shasta and Oroville – are currently holding more than 75% of their capacity, a significant boost compared to typical levels for this time of year.
