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Water Board May Ask California Farmers to Monitor Groundwater Pollution

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 18:00 CDT

Aug. 6--RANCHO CORDOVA -- Central Valley farmers struggling to get a handle on water pollution running off their fields and into streams also may have to keep an eye on whether they are polluting groundwater.

Chairman Robert Schneider of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board asked Friday that staff come up with a plan to add groundwater to the agency's farm pollution program.

"In the development of the initial program, the board chose not to address the groundwater issue, but now we want to begin this process," Schneider said.

Groups of farmers have banded together in the last two years to comply with new farm pollution rules. The San Joaquin County and Delta Water Quality Coalition, for example, monitors water pollution in the county and reports the results to the regional board.

So far, the coalitions have struggled to complete their reports on time and have been unable to figure out the origin of pesticide residues found in streams and rivers.

In recent years, the regional board has cracked down on salt pollution and other groundwater contaminants coming from food processing plants. That crackdown, in turn, prompted questions from processors over why the same standards don't apply to farms.

Farmlands have the potential to leach contaminants, including pesticides, salts and nitrogen, into the groundwater table.

Tom Pinkos, executive officer for the regional board, said state law requires protection of all the "waters of the state," including groundwater.

He promised a prompt response to Schneider's request.

"We can do that and certainly report back to you at the next meeting," Pinkos said.

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Source: The Record

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