In cases of acute constituents, such as E. coli or fecal coliform, a water supply may be shut down until treatment is completed. However, persistent contamination problems in a groundwater supply have led many communities to conclude that it is cheaper to simply shut wells down and resort to importing water. And DHS does not monitor private drinking wells - almost one million in total. Groundwater contamination poses a serious long-term threat for a state with limited water supplies and a growing thirst as the state's population increases. Californians tap 14.5 billion gallons of groundwater every day.
Agriculture also depends heavily on groundwater.
There are more than 71,000 irrigation wells in the state, and in the lower Sacramento River Valley alone, almost 750,000 acres of prime agricultural land are irrigated in part by groundwater. NRDC recommends that to address the scope, quality and accessibility of groundwater quality concerns, the California Legislature must designate a single agency assigned to collect data from the various agencies and survey all groundwater basins in the state. State agencies also must develop a better understanding of existing contaminants, determine the sources of contamination and make that information available to the public on an on-going and consistent basis. Finally, the state needs to fund monitoring programs adequately and ensure proper enforcement of those programs. About the legislation AB 599, the Groundwater Monitoring Act of 2001, would accomplish these important goals.