North Moss Landing Drinking Water Project

 

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Final Report: Feasibility Study for Long-Term Drinking Water Solutions for the Unincorporated Area North of Moss Landing

The Final Report for this project has been released. Please click on the links below to read a summary or the full Report. If you have questions or would like to learn more about this project, please contact Mayra Hernandez by email at mayra.hernandez@communitywatercenter.org or by phone at (831) 500-2125.

Background

Many households in the area north of Moss Landing receive water from private wells contaminated with nitrate and 1,2,3-trichloropropane (123-TCP) at levels much higher than public health standards. Exposure to nitrate in drinking water can have short- and long-term health effects for all people, especially infants and vulnerable populations. Long-term exposure to 123-TCP at levels typically found in contaminated drinking water is associated with an increased risk of cancer. CWC is working with Corona Environmental Consulting to study and evaluate long-term options for providing safe water to this area. The participation of property owners and residents will be critical to the success of this project and to securing funding for implementing the preferred solution. 

Project Area

This area was chosen because of the high levels of contamination found in many wells. The area includes  all households in the vicinity that are currently served by private wells or state or local small water systems and are not eligible to be included in the nearby Springfield Water System Consolidation Project.

If you live or own property within the project area, please fill out this form so we may contact you.

If you live or own property within the project area, please fill out this form so we may contact you.

Community-Driven Project

27 community members signed a petition requesting funding from the state to support this study. 

El Comité para Tener Agua Sana, Limpia, y Ecónomica (El Comité) was formed by concerned community members in February 2019 after learning about contamination in their wells. Since then CWC and El Comité have been working together to support community solutions. 

49 households out of 90 are receiving free bottled water delivery every week through a state grant that El Comité members advocated for.

Members of El Comité advocate for a free bottled water program for their community.

Members of El Comité advocate for a free bottled water program for their community.

Project Overview

The goal of this project is to evaluate long-term solutions for supplying safe drinking water to the approximately 90 households in the area. 

Once we have the final results of the study, CWC will work alongside community members to apply for state funds to implement the preferred long-term solution(s).

Long-term solutions to be considered:

  • Connecting to nearby public water systems

  • Forming a new community water system in the area

  • Constructing new wells in the area

  • Treating water from the existing contaminated wells

  • Combination of these solutions

Community Feedback - How to Get Involved

We hosted five community meetings to discuss the progress of the project with community members.

Call us at (831) 500-2125 with questions related to this project.

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Water Quality Data

13 of 18 wells in the area sampled through the Central Coast Regional Water Board’s well testing program had nitrate or 123-TCP concentrations above the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and 10 of those wells exceeded the MCLs for both contaminants. The MCL is the maximum legal level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water by the state of California. See the State Water Resources Control Board’s GAMA Groundwater Information System for more information on groundwater quality in your area.

Three local small water systems in this area (including one that was part of the sampling described above) are on the Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau Out of Compliance List (March 2019).