The issue that arose for the City of Newman regarding safe drinking water from one of the wells in town has been resolved because the City disconnected the well from the water system.
On Jan. 16, a letter was sent out by the City to residents informing them that the State of California had issued a drinking water warning because tests showed elevated nitrate levels in one of the city's wells.
According to the letter, a sample taken from Well 5 on Jan. 8, showed a nitrate level of 10.5 mg/L, which exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L set by the state. A follow-up sample on Jan. 14, confirmed the high level with a result of 10.7 mg/L. This was a significant increase from the previous quarterly sample taken on Oct. 9, 2024, which showed a level of 8.43 mg/L, well below the MCL.
On Feb. 13, the City sent a new letter stating that Well 5 was disconnected from the distribution system and changed to an inactive source.
“All wells currently in use meet the nitrate standard,” said Thomas Spankowski, the Director of Public Works. “The water is safe to use. Please continue to use the water for all regular uses including, but not limited to, cooking, hygiene, washing dishes, and cleaning clothes.”
Nitrates are a naturally occurring nitrogen oxide found at a relatively low concentration in soil and water. It’s a necessary component of living things and essential for plant growth. That is why nitrates are widely used in agriculture as a fertilizer to enhance the growth of plants. As a result, during certain weather conditions like heavy rains and snow, the fertilizer can run off into streams and rivers or percolate down into groundwater.
In California, nitrates are one of the most common groundwater contaminants. While 98 percent of the state’s community water systems meet all primary drinking water standards, some public wells (ongoing or intermittent) exceed the state’s nitrate standards. Wells with nitrates regularly above the MCL must be treated or blended with higher-quality water. The City of Newman is 100% reliant on groundwater wells, located throughout town, to provide the water supply.
Well 5, which was used as a backup well to supplement demand, contributed less than 2% of the total water supplied to the distribution system during the period between Oct. 9, 2024, and Jan. 14. The letter stated that, based on this information, the city believes that no one's health was put at risk during this period. Additionally, any potential residual of elevated nitrate levels over the MCL in the distribution system has been cleared.
The City of Newman Water Department performs regular sampling of the water supply and distribution system, which is how the nitrates were detected. The frequency of sampling depends on the contaminant itself, as well as previously recorded results.
All other wells in the distribution system remain in compliance.
