Arsenic injustice in San Joaquin water
Valley water systems serving more people of color were far more likely to violate the arsenic MCL.
Source
Environmental justice implications of arsenic contamination in California's San Joaquin Valley: a cross-sectional, cluster-design examining exposure and compliance in community drinking water systems
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Arsenic injustice in San Joaquin water
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464 community water systems were analyzed.
The 464 CWSs in our study sample served 1.134 million people
Systems serving more people of color had a 260% higher chance of an MCL violation.
CWSs serving higher percentages of people of color had a 260% higher chance of having at least one MCL violation.
What they did
Linked 2005–2007 arsenic monitoring for 464 community water systems serving 1.134 million people to demographics and compliance records.
What they found
Systems serving more people of color had a 260% higher chance of an MCL violation; higher homeownership cut violation odds 67%; ~14% of people were over 10 μg/L.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Does not measure individual tap concentrations or cancer outcomes in residents.
Key terms
- MCL
- Maximum contaminant level allowed in drinking water.
- CWS
- Community water system serving year-round residents.
- Revised Arsenic Rule
- US EPA cut the arsenic MCL from 50 to 10 μg/L.
- Environmental justice
- Fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens.
- Homeownership
- Proxy here for community socioeconomic resources.
- Point-of-entry source
- Well or intake feeding the distribution system.
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Systems in the sample:
Common questions
How many systems?
464 CWSs.
People served in sample?
1.134 million.
New arsenic MCL?
10 μg/L (from 50).
People-of-color violation odds?
260% higher chance.
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