Businesses, communities, health, and habitat will all be affected. For most rural landowners in Humboldt county, their water comes pure and drinkable from the ground. Yet, Humboldt County also has unique local conditions making this water vulnerable to contamination. Bedrock lies close to the surface in much of the county. Sinkholes and rock fractures are common providing conduits for groundwater contamination.
Local farmers estimate dozens more wells are unknown or unreported.
In one of the three ordinances under attack, the Humboldt County Supervisors try to address this concern. Each landowner must then test the water in any ADW before applying manure. In following years, if manure is applied each well must again be tested. If contamination occurs, the permit is suspended until evaluation, remediation, and a plan to prevent future contamination is complete. The Humboldt County supervisors believe public health is not protected by state rules that require only that lagoons to be at least 500 feet from an ADW and that manure be applied at least 200 feet away.