Living in California has many benefits, one of them being the amount of fresh produce available all year. But behind all this bounty, comes another hit to the environment. Or more specifically, to our water supply.

Nitrates are the most common groundwater contaminant in California. Although other places, such as Chesapeake Bay, has already seen environmental damages. The NY Times reported in November 2008, “As the phosphorous and nitrogen levels in the bay have grown, so have the algae that deplete oxygen needed by other aquatic life.”

A neat row of young corn growing in California. This nice photo is from ex.libris of flickr.

Nitrates are commonly found in artificial fertilizer such as ammonia. Under high temperatures and very high pressures, hydrogen and nitrogen (from thin air) are combined to produce ammonia. This process was invented over 50 years ago by German chemist Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch. Their Haber-Bosch process has often been noted as the most important invention of the 20th century.

Once farmers began using artificial fertilizer, the crop yield improves significantly. The bad part is that farmers often use too much nitrogen than the plants can absorb. The excess nitrogen has now found it’s way to our water supply.

California state law requires public water systems to remove nitrates. But many rural communities, such as those living near large farms don’t have access to the type of treatment systems available in big cities.

Julia Scott of the San Francisco Gate reported, “Nitrates have been linked to “blue baby syndrome,” in which an infant’s oxygen supply is cut off. Statewide, the number of wells that exceeded the health limit for nitrates jumped from nine in 1980 to 648 by 2007. Scientists anticipate a growing wave of nitrate problems in some parts of the state if remedial steps aren’t taken.”

In the eastern San Joaquin Valley, 1 in 3 domestic wells has nitrate levels that exceed public health limits. Many of the residents only drink bottled water now. Even that is not a very good solution to the problem. More bottled water, more plastic waste is generated. And sometimes bottle water is just the city’s tap water. I would recommend they use reverse osmosis water filtration system.

Porterville, CA— Fishermen drive their boat by a citrus farm on a Southern Sierra foothill above Lake Success. Two contributors to nitrate pollution are nitrogen based fertilizers and cow manure. The groundwater in some areas adjacent to Lake Success and the Tule River watershead have high levels of nitrates. - Photo from SF Gate.

In the meantime, California is very lax about the amount of nitrates being used. I know farmers will not be happy with any new regulations, but something has to be done before it’s too late.

Read more from Scientific American.