State Water Board Fails to Limit Nitrate Contamination
For Immediate Release
September 21, 2023
Contact:
Chelsea Tu, Monterey Waterkeeper, (831) 204-1381, chelsea@montereywaterkeeper.org
Maraid Jimenez, Community Water Center, (559) 809-7646, maraid.jimenez@communitywatercenter.org
Weakened Ag Order 4.0 Leaves Central Coast Communities Vulnerable
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yesterday the State Water Board (the Board) weakened protections for drinking water from fertilizer nitrate pollution through revisions to Ag Order 4.0. Community partners from the Central Coast traveled to Sacramento advocating for a reversal of these reduced critical protections.
Ag Order 4.0 is a policy that governs surface and groundwater protections in California’s Central Coast. The policy adopted by the Central Coast Regional Water Board includes key protections from continued nitrate contamination for drinking water sources — a serious health risk in communities throughout the region. Unfortunately, multiple vital protections were weakened in the Final Order adopted by the Board.
First, the Board eliminated Ag Order 4.0’s limits on nitrogen application and discharge, which would have restricted how much nitrate growers are allowed to put into groundwater.
”By removing enforceable limits, the State Water Board took the teeth out of Ag 4.0, which means that agricultural operators will now be able to continue poisoning the Central Coast’s groundwater and waterways without facing legal consequences,” said Chelsea Tu, Executive Director of Monterey Waterkeeper. “This is against the law and contrary to the Board’s own commitments to protect drinking water safety.”
Not only did the Board neglect to reduce Ag Order 4.0’s already lengthy timeline, which allows for growers to continue worsening groundwater contamination until 2051, they also gave room for this timeline to be extended. This can happen if polluters provide emergency solutions like bottled water which are not sustainable for communities that urgently need safe and reliable water access.
“They (growers) are going to keep contaminating the clean water and it can get worse to the point people will not be able to drink the water so we need to start now,” states Horacio Amezquita from the San Jerardo community. “As a matter of fact, we should have started protections 20 years ago. They are passing the cost and sicknesses to disadvantaged communities.”
“Interim drinking water solutions provide fragmented fixes for communities with unsafe drinking water, while long-term solutions can be lengthy, and at times, infeasible,” said Kjia Rivers, Policy Advocate with Community Water Center. “Communities need nitrate contamination to be addressed at the source. The State Board can’t wait any longer to hold polluters accountable to fix the problem they helped create.”
Finally, the Board is not requiring the Regional Board to protect wetlands and riparian areas leaving surface water unprotected from continued contamination. The Central Coast’s surface waters are at risk of pesticide toxicity and nutrient-caused harmful algae blooms.
“Despite acknowledging that wetland and riparian setbacks are vital to protecting the region’s surface water, the Water Board refused to require any meaningful wetland or riparian protections,” said Sean Bothwell, Executive Director with California Coastkeeper Alliance. “When are the Water Boards going to take their commitment to racial equality seriously? Stop making statements and start taking action to protect BIPOC communities.”
Despite these setbacks to safe and reliable water for communities in the Central Coast, Community Water Center and allied partners will continue advocating for adequate protections. See community partner comments here.
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Community Water Center (CWC) works to ensure that all communities have reliable access to safe, clean, and affordable water. Founded in 2006, CWC is a not-for-profit environmental justice organization, whose mission is to act as a catalyst for community-driven water solutions through education, organizing, and advocacy.
Web: www.communitywatercenter.org.
Twitter: @CWaterC
Facebook: @CommunityWaterCenter
Monterey Waterkeeper is a not-for-profit organization that protects and restores fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters within the Monterey Region and along California's Central Coast for all to enjoy.
Web: www.montereywaterkeeper.org
Instagram: @montereywaterkeeper
Twitter: @MCoastkeeper
California Coastkeeper Alliance represents Waterkeepers programs statewide as they fight for drinkable, swimmable, fishable waters for all Californians. CCKA defends and expands California’s protective legislation and strengthens the function of our State Water Board. For more information, visit www.cacoastkeeper.org or @CA_Waterkeepers on social media.
