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Expert Nitrate Panel

Expert Nitrate Panel. Chris M. Kapheim General Manager May 5, 2014. AID Groundwater Map. AID Nitrate Background. Nitrate contamination is more prevalent in the easterly area Groundwater aquifers are less defined in the easterly area

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Expert Nitrate Panel

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  1. Expert Nitrate Panel Chris M. Kapheim General Manager May 5, 2014

  2. AID Groundwater Map

  3. AID Nitrate Background • Nitrate contamination is more prevalent in the easterly area • Groundwater aquifers are less defined in the easterly area • Heavier soil is predominate along the easterly area closer to the foothills

  4. AID Groundwater Protection Impacts • Shallow groundwater (less than 100 feet) • Use of septic tanks in rural areas • High concentration of small parcels with home sites • Type of agricultural cropping patterns • Type of farming practices

  5. AID 2010 Crop Survey (acres) • Citrus 13,386 • Deciduous 38,065 • Nut Trees 1,768 • Row Crops 25,252 • Vineyards 16,418 • Other 9,486 • Non Irrigated 24,925

  6. Application of Management Practices • Most of the agriculture is furrow irrigated (approximately 80%) • Citrus and grapes are moving to low volume irrigation • Improperly abandoned wells • Well construction standards & approval need to be updated • Gravel packed wells being deepened into the drinking water strata can result in aquifer contamination

  7. Regional Long-Term Solution • Surface water treatment • Reduce groundwater pumping • Insure compliance with drinking water standards • Cost effective on a regional basis • Especially for disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged communities • Blended water strategy (utilize wells & surface water) • Reduce cost • Alternate supply

  8. Surface Water Treatment Area

  9. Verification Measures • Testing • Origin of nitrogen • Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer • Plant or animal source • Other • Holistic analysis and review • Cropping patterns • Water supplies and sources (surface and groundwater) • Historical uses

  10. Verification Cont’d • Monitoring Wells • Engineered for water depths and geology • Clustered at various depths • Well locations are part of a monitoring plan

  11. Reporting • Clarify sampling and testing: • Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program • Integrated Regional Water Management Plan • Water agency, county or city • Regional Groundwater Management Agency (pending) • Coordination of data: • Local • Regional • State Partnership

  12. Conclusion • Focus on solutions to issues • Need for clean drinking water (surface water treatment) • Need for additional onsite testing (origin of contaminants) • Groundwater protection (best management practices) • Re-evaluate regulatory mandates based on in-place solutions • Vulnerability assessments • Monitoring and reporting

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