4 ppt... that's parts per trillion…the new public health
goal (PHG) for arsenic in drinking water recently established
by the State of California. And coming this summer….a state drinking
water standard for arsenic - which by law, will be as close as
possible to the PHG, but with consideration of the technological
limitations and economic impacts in achieving the standard. With
the current federal drinking water level leading the way at 10
parts per billion (ppb) and possibly going lower (it was 50 ppb
in 2000) - we can expect California's standard to be as low or
lower.
Critics argue that lowering the arsenic standard may have devastating
effects. Arsenic is naturally present in rocks and minerals in
the earth's crust, and naturally is present in groundwater, at
levels often higher than current and contemplated standards, especially
in the Western U. S. With as much as 60% or more of California's
water supply in a given year coming from groundwater, this reliance
may come with a very stiff price as water suppliers throughout
the state will have to construct very expensive arsenic treatment
facilities or attempt to obtain new supplies…or simply be forced
to turn the spigots off.
This symposium, the 12th in GRA's important and very popular Contaminants
in Groundwater Series, looked at the arsenic in groundwater
issue, the impacts the new drinking water standard will have on
this critical Western U.S. resource, and possible solutions to
mitigate these impacts.
This conference focused on the continuing and escalating problems
associated with arsenic in groundwater with topics in:
- Status of California Groundwater and Arsenic Distribution
- Arsenic Occurrence and Chemistry
- Public Health Issues and Impacts on Beneficial Use
- Collaborative Approaches to Achieve Source Management
- Source Controls and Treatment Technologies
- Impacts on Waste Disposal After Groundwater Treatment
- Cost of Arsenic Cleanup in Groundwater
Related Links:
> Symposium
Resource Binders Available for Purchase
> Symposium Presentation
Slides Available in GRA Members Area
