L.A. Officials Warn of Compromised Drinking Water in Fire-Ravaged Areas
As fires across Los Angeles County start to wind down, health officials are warning about risks related to water systems in the area.
Tag Archive for: Water Quality
An Even Bigger Threat is Looming Behind California’s Fires
Fires in and around Los Angeles continue to rage as gusting Santa Ana winds drive the flames through brush and into neighborhoods. Two major blazes, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire, have combined burned almost 40,000 acres since last week. Another fire, the Auto Fire, erupted Monday evening in Ventura County. The fires have killed at least 24 people.
Ramona Water District Reports Community’s Water System is Lead-free
The Ramona Municipal Water District has announced that the community’s water system does not contain lead after an inventory of service lines.
The water district reviewed the service lines to determine the material of those lines and fittings in response to federal regulations aimed at protecting communities from lead exposure, the agency announced Dec. 20.
Water Reuse in the U.S.: a Comprehensive Look at Progress, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Water reuse stands at the intersection of technology, policy, and public trust. The journey from basic agricultural reuse to advanced potable applications highlights the adaptability and potential of this approach.
Water scarcity and quality issues have increasingly pushed the boundaries of traditional water management practices. Among the innovative solutions gaining traction is water reuse, a concept that has evolved from agricultural and industrial applications to potable water supply. To explore the evolution, policy advancements, technological readiness, and future trends in water reuse in the United States, Smart Water Magazine spoke with three leading experts: Ben Glickstein, Director of Communications at WaterReuse Association; Eva Steinle-Darling, PhD, Water Reuse Technical Practice Director at Carollo Engineers; and Peter Grevatt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of The Water Research Foundation.
Helix Water District Releases Water Quality Report
Helix Water District’s newly released 2023 Water Quality Report shows that throughout 2023, the district continued to deliver top-quality drinking water that meets all federal and state drinking water regulations.
What water supplies contain depends on where they come from. As water travels through rock, soils, and rivers, it takes with it the characteristics of those environments. In 2023, 54% of Helix water came from Lake Cuyamaca and local creeks, after winter storms dropped 58 inches of rain and snow on the mountains east of San Diego.
The Colorado River provided 26% of the district’s water supply. The remaining 20% came from rivers in Northern California through the State Water Project. Helix manages the characteristics of each water source through its multistep treatment process.
“Our system operators carefully blend the water from each of our sources to improve water quality, and our on-site chemist and biologist work hand in glove with our water treatment plant operators,” said Helix Water District General Manager Brian Olney. “It takes a highly trained and very committed team to maintain our level of water quality year after year.”
The 2023 Water Quality Report explains the water quality standards mandated through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state of California regulations. It presents Helix Water District’s water quality data for each standard. As in years past, the district’s tap water met all standards.
To view the report in English
Go to hwd.fyi/wqr2023-english
To view the report in Spanish
Go to hwd.fyi/wqr2023-espanol
To request a printed report
Please email or call 619-466-0585
For questions about water quality
Go to hwd.fyi/water-quality-faqs, email or call 619-667-6248
Supreme Court Could Upend America’s Clean Water Rules
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency’s new water rules.
In April, President Joe Biden’s administration and the EPA introduced national limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. These PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” have been linked to health concerns such as cancer.
Water Systems Warn Americans Could Soon See Major Rate Hikes Due to ‘Forever Chemicals’
In exchange for cleaner water, Americans around the nation may soon have to pay hefty prices.
Water systems are starting to warn residents of massive rate hikes as they prepare to install technology to filter out toxic chemicals in a family known as PFAS.
Delta Pumps Likely Killed Over Half a Million Fish in Two Decades. This Year Was Extra Deadly
Just east of the San Francisco Bay, a steel bucket holding 90 gallons of water is strained to rescue precious cargo. The metal roars as it spins, dispelling more and more water, to reveal, finally, a wriggling pair of juvenile Chinook salmon.
Biden Admin Advances Groundwater Permitting Policy
The Biden administration is moving forward with new permitting guidance to curb pollution that moves through groundwater in response to a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
In a decision praised by environmental advocates, the high court ruled in 2020 that wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities must obtain federal permits for groundwater pollution that affects major bodies of water.
Scientists Develop an Affordable Sensor for Lead Contamination
Engineers at MIT, Nanytang Technological University, and several companies have developed a compact and inexpensive technology for detecting and measuring lead concentrations in water, potentially enabling a significant advance in tackling this persistent global health issue.
