Water

 Drinking Water Week 2026From Source to System: A Regional Check on Reliability, Risk, and Responsibility.Drinking Water Week, observed May 3 to 9 for this year (2026), is often treated as a public awareness moment. For agencies, engineers, regulators, and policymakers, it should function as a…

  DRIs, RDAs, DGAs-  if there wasn’t already enough jargon to sort through in nutrition recommendations, a new acronym has taken center stage: UPFs. But what exactly is a UPF, and what does it mean for you, your health, and your meals?If you’ve been alarmed by media reports that UPFs are …

 Water as Our Power: Earth Day Reflections from Southern California’s WatershedsEach year, Earth Day gives us a moment to pause. Not just to celebrate, but to reflect. This year’s theme, led by EarthDay.org, Our Power, Our Planet, asks a simple but important question: What does our power look like in…

Inspiring Young Water Stewards Through Hands-On Learning at the 2026 OC Children’s Water Festival💧 Hands-On Learning in Drinking Water TreatmentApril 15–16, 2026 | Oak Canyon Park, Orange County, California On April 15 and 16, 2026, Oak Canyon Park in Silverado, California, came alive with the energy of…

Childcare centers and homes aim to create a healthy environment, but holistically assessing practices and identifying what to improve is often challenging. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior highlights the reliability and validity of the Site-Level…

You have likely seen nutrition headlines or social media influencers focusing on “healthy fats” and high-protein diets. Those nutrients are important—but the truth is that most Americans already meet or exceed the recommended amounts, and increasing intake could actually have negative impact on health. …

Affordability Analysis of Bakersfield's Proposed 2026-2031 Sewer Rate IncreasesLaljeet Sangha, Ph.D. UC Cooperative Extension Advisor– UCCE KernKey TakeawaysBakersfield needs to invest in its aging sewer system. That is not in question.At the proposed FY 2030-31 rate of $875/year, an estimated 33,700…

Can reconnecting with one’s traditional culture be an important key to healthy habits? A recent community-based study evaluated the impact of a culturally-grounded intervention designed to improve beverage consumption habits among young Navajo children. Between 2021 and 2023, 74 families participated in…

 Recent California news reports have highlighted tragic cases of fatal mushroom misidentification. These cases involved species such as the highly toxic Amanita phalloides (commonly known as “death cap mushroom”) and can naturally spark fear. However, these headlines focus on worst-case scenarios and…