Pollution of Water Supplies

Two articles published in The Times appear to contain conflicting information about the pollution of our water supplies. In the article (Nov. 7), “Contaminants Found in 17% of Large Public Water Wells,” the Department of Water and Power claims the preliminary results of a statewide survey conducted by the Department of Health Services show growing awareness of a contamination problem that “has been there for years and even decades. It is not an indication of a rapid spread of groundwater contamination.”

Yet an earlier report (Times, Oct. 12), “High Levels of Solvent Found in L.A. Water,” warned DWP users that because of a breakdown in the aqueduct system bringing water from the Owens Valley, which was expected to be repaired by Oct. 21, more local groundwater from polluted wells in the large San Fernando Valley underground reservoir was being blended with water from the Metropolitan Water District. According to the health department, water from these wells exceeded state action levels for trichloroethlyene (TCE) by almost 250%. The Times disclosed that DWP tests show local groundwater pollution has been spreading because depressed pumping of the most contaminated wells has allowed the polluted water to flow downstream to other nearby wells.

The Department of Health Services announced in the Nov. 7 article that it is surveying industrial and agricultural pollutants contained in wells used by major water suppliers throughout the state. With about 90% of the review now completed, it has been found wells in Los Angeles County appear to be the greatest culprits. About 127 local wells from 50 different water suppliers are contaminated. Unfortunately, wells in the San Gabriel and Central Valleys were not included in the survey, or the total figures would be considerably higher.

In both articles, spokesmen for the DWP and the health department urge the public not to be overly alarmed. Yet the huge gaps of data in the statewide survey and the DWP’s recent failures to notify its customers whenever contaminants exceeded state action levels do indeed indicate the public is being misled.

Although the L.A. Aqueduct went back into service on Oct. 21 as scheduled, many DWP customers may still be receiving water exceeding state action levels for TCE. The Department of Health Services reports that because the amount of cleaner Owens Valley water appears to be below previous normal amounts, more local groundwater may be being used. If true, this would at the very least affect parts of the northeastern San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, and portions of Central, East and West Los Angeles. Corroborating evidence that pollution of the Valley aquifer is spreading appears to be borne out by the recent health department acknowledgement that 50 of the approximately 109 local wells used by the DWP exceed state action levels for TCE. From data supplied by the DWP, this represents an increase of two wells since August.

The public cannot stand by while state and local authorities quibble over semantics of what contaminant levels constitute a risk to our health. State policy obligates the Department of Water and Power to notify its customers whenever water they are receiving exceeds state action levels or federal standards for pollutants. It is not now doing so. DWP officials should also begin to inform us of the timetable for cleaning up our groundwater and how much it can all be expected to cost.

BARBARA FINE

Beverly Hills

Fine is chair of geology and hydrology of the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Assns., Inc.