The Region : Nitrate Problem Studied
Three water agencies have begun a study to determine ways to solve nitrate contamination in wells around Pomona.
Solving the nitrate problem, water agency officials said, could benefit water customers not only in Pomona but also in neighboring cities such as Diamond Bar and Walnut.
The $56,800 study is being overseen by Pomona’s Water Department with the help of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. James Montgomery of Consulting Engineers Inc. of Pasadena is conducting the study, which is scheduled for completion by late summer.
Nitrate contamination results from the runoff of agricultural fertilizers, livestock wastes and septic tanks. In the Pomona area, much of the nitrate is suspected to stem from the use of fertilizers in the once-abundant orange groves.
High levels in drinking water can pose health problem to infants. To minimize nitrate levels, water agencies must either stop using wells with high amounts or blend more expensive imported water with the local well water.
Remedying the problem may cost anywhere from $100,000 to several million dollars. But water officials say Pomona alone might save as much as $350,000 to $450,000 a year if the pollution is reduced.
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