[CPEO-MEF] Perchlorate problem in San Martin, CA

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

San Martin's Water Woes

By Frank Sweeney
San Jose Mercury News
April 11, 2003

With cleanup of perchlorate contamination from San Martin's groundwater
likely to last decades, officials are taking an early look at how the
rural residents can be weaned from bottled water for drinking and cooking.

One thing seems clear -- a network of pipelines would have to be
constructed at a cost of tens of millions of dollars for a new source of
water to supply the more than 2,000 San Martin residents who have always
received drinking water from their wells.

That would be necessary whether San Martin ultimately gets water from
the Morgan Hill municipal system to the north; the Gilroy system to the
south; or from the Santa Clara Valley Water District's San Felipe
pipeline, which runs right through the area.

The alternative to tapping into an existing water source would be to
treat the water at each wellhead to remove the perchlorate
contamination. Such technology, though in its infancy, could soon be on
the market. One San Jose company already has a patent and is seeking the
final approvals necessary to offer it to the public.

...

for the entire story, see
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/2003/04/11/news/local/5609736.htm



(Note: This is one of the few perchlorate contamination sites which is
not directly associated with the U.S. military. Though Olin, the owner
of the former plant that serves as the source of the pollution, is a
military contractor, it manufactured commercial products at this location.)

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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