In 2012, California became the first state in the country to pass legislation declaring clean water is a human right. “Every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable
When you turn on your tap, is the water safe to drink? Is it safe to cook and shower with? These are questions most Californians don’t think about. However, the
The issue is extremely complicated but boils down to limits the state has placed on nitrate levels in drinking water. Environmental and social justice groups, as alleged in the Oct. 27 lawsuit, say growers apply far too much nitrogen-based fertilizers than is needed to grow healthy crops. It is the problem of some growers believing if some is good then more is better.
In 2021, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board issued an order, after years of public hearings and review, calling for a limitation on runoff from agricultural fields.