CV-SALTS – Managing Salt and Nitrate in the California Central Valley
Residential Well Testing
The first goal of the Nitrate Control Program is to provide safe drinking water to those with groundwater that exceeds the nitrate drinking water standard. To accomplish this, Management Zones are conducting a multi-step process:
Step 1
Research and identify specific residential areas with high nitrate concentration in groundwater.
Step 2
Reach out to residents in those areas to offer water-testing services.
Step 3
Offer free bottled water delivery services to those residents with wells exceeding safe nitrate concentration levels.
Step 4
Identify long-term safe drinking water solutions.
Valley Water Collaborative Management Zone and Tule Management Zone have added non-nitrate contaminants to their well tests. This program expansion is funded by a grant from the State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance (DFA) and its Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (SAFER). The Chowchilla Management Zone also tests for non-nitrate contaminants. All other Management Zones are currently in the process of contracting to also offer well testing for all drinking water contaminants.