Water Contamination in the Central Valley

May 29, 2025

The water in your home may not be safe.

We obsess over keeping our kids healthy. We buy organic foods whenever we can and do our best to keep them from eating a lot of junk. We never imagined the worst health threat facing our kids was coming out of our faucets!

We knew the water in our home was not the best. We figured the bad taste was because it was so hard, but unsafe? It turns out the water in the Central Valley has some of the highest contamination levels in the country from decades of commercial agriculture and industrial production.

The California Water Resources Board (waterboards.ca.gov) created this map which shows in red the public water systems that fail to meet state water quality standards for key contaminants.

Domestic wells and public water systems share the same groundwater, so it’s not surprising they share the same contamination.

Here is a list of the most common contaminants found in our Central Valley water:

Arsenic

Arsenic is found naturally in the soil and water throughout the Central Valley and much of the state. Long-term exposure has been shown to cause developmental and neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. The arsenic concentrations in drinking water in some areas of the Central Valley are 60% higher than the EPA’s contaminant threshold. ([Fresnoland][1])

1,2,3-Trichloropropane or TCP

TCP is a man-made chemical that until the early 1990s was used in pesticides and to fumigate the soil. TCP doesn’t break down and eventually makes it into our groundwater. TCP is a known carcinogen and can cause numerous neurological and health problems. ([Fresnoland][1], [Fresnoland][2])

Uranium

Uranium is naturally found in groundwater throughout much of the western US. Long-term exposure to high levels of uranium increases the risk of cancer and can cause kidney damage. ([Pacific Standard][3], [Fresnoland][1])

Nitrates

Nitrates come from agricultural runoff and animal waste. Chronic exposure to nitrates can be fatal for infants. Long-term exposure to nitrates can increase the risk of cancer, cause thyroid issues, birth defects, and other neonatal abnormalities.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFASs are man-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in a wide variety of everyday products, from Teflon cookware to food packaging and cosmetics. Even exposure to low-level PAFS can cause cancer, liver damage, thyroid issues, decreased fertility, and developmental problems.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)

Public water systems discharge treated wastewater containing PPCPs into rivers and other areas, where the contaminants can get into groundwater. Tap water samples throughout California show contamination from PPCPs. Health concerns from long-term exposure to pharmaceutical contaminated water include antibiotic resistance, hormonal disruption, reproductive and fertility issues, psychological issues from exposure to psychiatric drugs, and the overall buildup of medicines in the body.

Most of the water systems throughout the Central Valley don’t have the funding and resources to properly remove these contaminants from our water.

Jeff and I are concerned for the health of our family and for all the people we serve. We researched the best ways to make sure all the water in our home is pure and healthy and discovered there are very few options that can remove all the contaminants likely to be in our water. We are honored to now offer options to keep your family safe, ranging from simple kitchen water treatment to whole-home filtration and purification.

[1]: https://fresnoland.org/2021/10/29/article246560303-html/