One in Ten People Exposed to Contaminated Water

One in ten people is exposed to unsafe drinking water.  According to a UC Davis study that looks at high levels of nitrate in ground water, in the Tulare Lake and Salinas basins.  It affects 250,000 residents from Fresno to Bakersfield and the Salinas Valley.

“This problem is really not just a problem in the southern central valley its no even a problem just in California this is a global issues,” said Dr. Thomas Harter, of UC Davis. 

Agriculture is blamed as the source of 90% percent of nitrate contamination in the San Joaquin and Salinas because of certain fertilizers and dairy waste.  Ag is the valleys top industry and farmers say steps are taken to minimize water contamination.

“Carefully managing the products that they need for successful production of their crops, such as nitrogen fertilizers.  That's one critical component of producing food and farm products efficiently,” said Dave Kranz, a spokesperson for the California Farm Bureau Federation. 

UC Davis researchers say excess nitrate in drinking water could be linked to thyroid illnesses, some cancers and reproductive problems.

“The issues is if its at very high levels. Especially in people who might have an enzyme defect, a very small percentage of the population, or in infants,” said Dr. Giatri Dave, CBS47 medical expert. 

Many residents of rural areas do drink the ground water because they live below the poverty line.

“Most farmers live where they work and they certainly want to be certain that they, their families, their employees and their neighbors have access to safe water,” said Kranz.