36 States Find Perchlorate In Water

An oxidant used in fireworks, road flares and as an accelerant in rocket fuel has been found in the wells of towns in 36 states, but no one knows how much is dangerous, who to sue, and when to close the wells to avoid getting sued. The chemical can interrupt the production of thyroid hormones, which are needed for pre and post natal development, but governmental and scientific circles are debating the particulars. The town of Rialto, CA, which was used by the military as a pit stop for weapons transfer during WWII and a storage area during the Cold War, has found 88 parts per billion (ppb) in their wells. Because the plume of perchlorate is in the aquifer 400 feet below ground, it is also affecting the groundwater of nearby communities. The EPA, in February, set the standard of 24.5 ppb as the maximum, up from its earlier draft standard of 1 ppb. California sets its standard at 6 ppb, while the Pentagon, which may face billions of dollars in clean up costs, sets their standard at 200 ppb. Rialto has decided on a zero-tolerance approach, managing to avoid water shutoffs by relying on conservation, recycling wastewater for non-drinking uses and getting supplies from neighboring districts on high demand days. However, town officials believe that getting the polluters to clean up is the only long term solution.