📚 Featured Resource:
In this article, Dr. Monica Palta and Dr. Esther Lofton explore how groundwater nitrate contamination disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities that rely on groundwater for their drinking water. They examine the connections between water quality, public health, affordability, environmental justice, and trust in drinking water systems, while discussing practical strategies to reduce nitrate pollution and improve access to safe drinking water.
Although originally published as part of the Pure Water Matters blog, the issues explored remain central to water equity and continue to inform conversations about safe, affordable, and reliable drinking water across California.
📖 Read the full article:
Unsafe to Drink: Tackling Groundwater Nitrate Contamination ...
✍🏽 About the Authors
Dr. Monica Palta is the UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in Urban Water Quality, Health, and Justice with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), based at the University of California, Irvine. The main goal of her research is to develop sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships between natural ecosystems and human populations in urban watersheds. Her research investigates sources and mitigation strategies for water pollution and develops green infrastructure and environmental management strategies.
Dr. Monica Palta: UC ANR Profile
Dr. Esther Lofton is the Urban Watershed Resilience Advisor with University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Her research and Extension program focuses on drinking water quality, stormwater, watershed resilience, water conservation, and community engagement, with an emphasis on translating science into practical solutions that support safe, affordable, and resilient water systems.
- Dr. Esther Lofton: UC ANR Profile
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https://ucanr.edu/site/socal-water-resources/socal-water-blog-series
🌊 SoCal Water Resources
The public outreach platform of the Urban Watershed Resilience Program.
https://ucanr.edu/site/socal-water-resources
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https://ucanr.edu/site/watersheds-los-angeles-and-ventura-counties
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