CV-SALTS Effort Tackling Nitrate in Central Valley by ACWA Staff Jun 26, 2026 Newsletters Photo courtesy of CV-SALTS The stakes are always high in the Central Valley, where the epicenter of California’s agricultural economy encompasses 40% of the land mass of the state and provides 25% of the nation’s food. Where there are challenges, you’ll find ACWA member agencies working within collaborative efforts to find a solution. One of those challenges is addressing nitrate accumulations in groundwater from historical and ongoing discharges stemming from accepted agriculture, municipal and industrial activities. ACWA member agencies belong to a broad-based initiative working on this challenge through an effort better known as CV-SALTS. History In 2006, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board initiated a forward-thinking and collaborative stakeholder initiative known as Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability – CV-SALTS – to develop a Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate Management Plan (SNMP). The SNMP complied with the requirements in the State Water Resources Control Board’s Recycled Water Policy. Stakeholder membership included representatives from regional and the state water boards along with agriculture, municipalities, industry, water supply, environmental justice, state and federal regulatory agencies, as well as the public. Today it provides a comprehensive regulatory and programmatic approach for the sustainable management of salts and nitrate in groundwater and surface water. How it Works The Central Valley’s Basin Plans were amended to include the Nitrate Control Program through the establishment of management zones. In general, a management zone consists of multiple permittees from various sectors working collectively to first ensure safe drinking water, then to achieve balanced loadings within the management area, and ultimately to develop a long-term plan for managed restoration of groundwater to meet applicable water quality objectives. The Nitrate Control Program is an innovative, collaborative approach because it shifts from traditional one-size-fits-all regulations to a flexible, community-driven model that prioritizes public health. The Nitrate Control Program also establishes a long-term management strategy for addressing nitrate pollution in the Central Valley’s drinking water aquifers. Nitrate at high levels can reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, which can result in brain damage and death. Infants and pregnant women are most at risk of nitrate toxicity. High resolution groundwater quality mapping was conducted for the Central Valley floor and was the basis for prioritizing nitrate management in the identified basins. There are multiple management zones funded by permitted dischargers from various industries, including irrigated agriculture, dairy, oil and gas, publicly-owned treatment works, wine, poultry and food processors. Management zones have worked diligently to provide safe drinking water to households since 2021. Safe, free bottled water delivery sounds like an easy sell, but management zones face multiple challenges as they conduct outreach and encourage domestic well owners to apply to the program. Some challenges include limitations on personal interactions and public gatherings; the lack of internet access in some areas; a lack of awareness about water quality problems; language and cultural barriers; and distrust of government or “free” programs. Applying Outreach Management zones use dozens of outreach methods, learning what works and what doesn’t and regularly implementing new approaches, adapting to local needs to reach thousands of potentially affected households. These management zones remain keenly aware that the best results will come through word of mouth and good relationships with local communities. To reach as many people as possible, they are leveraging the power of personal connection and asking for help from local officials, leaders, educators, influencers and reporters. This includes bilingual content and access to Spanish-speaking staff every step of the way. Management zones have provided assistance such as free domestic well testing, interim safe drinking water through bottled water delivery, and free water fill stations available to residents with nitrate impacted domestic wells who are not connected to a public water system. Since inception, 4.7 million gallons of clean water have been distributed to more than 2,300 households; 3,800 domestic wells have been tested to determine if nitrate levels exceed the applicable drinking water standard. Their collective progress to date is shown on a dashboard available online at cvsalinity.org. “Effective water management and the provision of safe drinking water for Central Valley residents requires more than just technical solutions; it requires broad, stakeholder-driven collaboration,” said David Cory, Board Director of the Grasslands Drainage District, member of the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority and Chair of the Central Valley Salinity Coalition. “The CV-SALTS initiative is a primary example of past and ongoing stakeholder efforts that implement the Salt and Nitrate Control Program. Key efforts for this initiative involve numerous ACWA member agencies and projects including, the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority’s Grasslands Bypass Project that helps manage salinity in the basin.” “Collaboration on salinity and nitrate issues enhances the protection of water quality and also support a sustainable and thriving agricultural economy for the entire Central Valley,” Cory added. Ensuring Access to Safe Drinking Water Management zones are also working on long-term solutions through inter-organizational collaboration needed to get rural communities safe drinking water, such as accelerating actions to install in-home treatment systems to remove nitrate from domestic drinking water supplies, all while simultaneously implementing new management practices and developing new technologies. Both aim to remove nitrate from discharges that may otherwise leach to groundwater, such as connecting a neighborhood of well-dependent homes to a nearby water system or consolidating smaller water systems to expand their capacity. Management zones facilitate the finding of long-term drinking water solutions for rural communities within their service areas. This includes working with nitrate-impacted rural communities to explore what solutions will work for their area. Such collaboration involves county governments, water systems, area residents, local nonprofits and others. It is the kind of partnership ACWA members are practiced at and understand the value of. Ultimately, the Nitrate Control Program recognizes the complexity of addressing nitrate issues and takes a realistic phased approach, which includes providing safe drinking water to residents in the Central Valley while the program is being implemented. It also underscores the value and importance of collaboration amongst agencies, industry, agriculture and regulatory agencies.
