Kings Water Alliance Management Zone Public Meeting

Nitrate is a contaminant that can make drinking water unsafe for drinking when above a certain level.

You can not see, smell, or taste nitrate in water.

You can not boil nitrate out of water.

Nitrate comes from chemicals found in most fertilizers, manure, and septic tanks.

Rain and irrigation water can carry nitrate down through the soil and into groundwater.

The government set a legal limit on the amount of nitrate in water used for drinking ( US EPA  and  California state regulatory requirement ).

Most people do not know if their water contains unsafe levels of nitrate. The only way to know for sure is to have your well tested.

Groundwater is produced from water-bearing deposits beneath the land surface (sand, gravel, etc.).

All wells need to have good integrity and be protected from land surface activities.

Proper well construction helps reduce contaminants from being introduced at the land surface.

Public Supply Wells are tested for contaminants regularly.

Public Supply Wells can have treatment to make sure the water is safe for drinking before it reaches homes.

Private Domestic Wells must be tested by the owner to determine if it is impacted by nitrate (or other chemicals that are unsafe for drinking).

If impacted, the Private Domestic Well owner should take action to address the nitrate before water is used for drinking.

A new regulation that will help resolve problems with Nitrate in our area. We have three goals:

1. Provide safe drinking water supplies.

2. Reduce Nitrate impacts to water supplies.

3. Restore groundwater quality, where reasonable, feasible, and practicable.

Areas throughout the Valley have been forming Management Zones to address the nitrate issue. Our Management Zone is formed by a new organization called the "Kings Water Alliance."

Brings safe drinking water to your community, where needed.

We work together and share the cost of Nitrate management.

We identify solutions tailored to the Kings/Tulare Lake area.

1. Deal with Nitrate problems locally.

2. Use local knowledge to lower Nitrate levels.

3. Support a vision that realistically manages Nitrate for the local economy and communities.

Growers permitted under the Central Valley Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program "General Order".

Dairies, feedlots, and poultry farms that operate under a "General Order" from the State to discharge Nitrate.

Wastewater treatment operators, food processors, wineries, and other facilities that have a permit from the State to discharge Nitrate.

Other parties interested in the quality and management of water in the Kings/Tulare Lake area, including Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, water utilities, county and community government offices, non-governmental organizations, etc.

We have completed an initial assessment of groundwater conditions to look at Nitrate groundwater quality.

Public and non-public data sources were used to create this map that shows the average nitrate for wells in the Upper Zone that have nitrate sample data between 2000-2020.

1. Locating areas where unsafe levels of Nitrate are in drinking water.

2. Locating domestic wells in areas with unsafe Nitrate levels.

3. Identifying existing water systems that treat for Nitrate.

- Lead/Manage Efforts

- Outreach/ Communications

- Coordination/ Collaboration

As of November 2020, there have been a total of 412 dischargers that have indicated they will participate in the Management Zone, out of a possible total of 633.

Outreach continues to the dischargers within the Management Zone.

There are expected to be several committees within the Kings Water Alliance to help advise the governing board. These committees will include: representatives from impacted communities, technical advisors, and other interested parties.

 Kings Water Alliance 

The Management Zone is required to implement short-term and long-term solutions to ensure residents in the area have access to safe drinking water

The Early Action Plan identifies short-term solutions to ensure access to safe drinking water for those who are dependent on groundwater from a well that has Nitrate that exceeds a safe level.

Centralized Replacement Water - Water Fill Stations.

Alternative Replacement Water Options (where appropriate) - Bottled-water Delivery or Point-of-Use Treatment System.

Three water fill stations are already operational in the Management Zone area in Hanford, Dinuba, and Kerman.

Additional fill stations could be established in other areas within the Management Zone through implementation of the Early Action Plan.

Click  here  for specific locations of operational fill stations.

The Early Action Plan may include an alternative water delivery program for residents that are unable to obtain safe drinking water from a fill station.

Two common examples of alternative water delivery programs include: 1) Bottled-water delivery to your residence; or 2) Point-Of-Use (POU) which treats the water at a specific location in the home prior to use (see image).

Qualified residents may apply to receive bottled water.

Vendor delivers water to a resident on a regular schedule.

Resident must work with the vendor to coordinate timing, amount, and receipt of full bottles and pick-up of empty bottles.

Evaluation and installation of the appropriate system at the residence.

Regular maintenance to function properly.

Long-term coordination with vendor to conduct regular maintenance (e.g. changing treatment cartidges).

Participation in an alternative water delivery option, e.g., bottled-water delivery or POU installation, may require having information showing that your well is impacted by high Nitrate.

If the resident does not have Nitrate data for their well, then the Management Zone will sample the well for nitrate at no cost to the resident.

Well water quality testing results will be shared with the resident and there may be opportunities to have your well tested for other constituents of concern.

Provide Well Data - Do you own a domestic well? Do you know the nitrate level in your well water?

Provide Input to the Management Zone - Participate in the development of the Early Action Plan during community meetings.

Tell your neighbors about the Project.

Sign-up to receive program updates at:  http://kingswateralliance.org/ 

What Outreach Activities are Planned in the Coming Months?

Next Community Outreach Meeting: January 28, 2021.

Upcoming meetings are an opportunity to voice your opinion.

Review and comment on Early Action Plan ideas to provide safe drinking water during their development.

Continue to collaborate during Early Action Plan implementation, which will begin in the Spring 2021.

Sign up for the Early Action Plan email list:  http://kingswateralliance.org/ 

- Future webinar information.

- Early Action Plan review & input.

- Fastest & easiest way to stay engaged.