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Writing in the August edition of Environmental Science and Technology Letters, Jason Nolan and Karrie A. Weber of the University of Nebraska report unsafe levels of uranium in groundwater from California's San Joaquin Valley and from the Ogallala Aquifer underlying Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota.
In Natural Uranium Contamination in Major U.S. Aquifers Linked to Nitrate they note a correlation between concentrations of uranium and nitrate ions in the groundwater samples they tested. They theorize that the nitrate, a major component of fertilizer, can oxidize uranium from U(IV) to U(VI), making it water-soluble. They found that in the San Joaquin Valley, uranium reached as much as 180 times the maximum contaminant level (MCL) set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and nitrate was as much as 34 times the MCL. Samples from the Ogallala Aquifer had as much as 89 times the MCL of uranium and 189 times the MCL of nitrate.
Water from these aquifers is used for drinking and for irrigation. Soluble uranium is bioaccumulated by certain food crops; uranium in the human body can result in cancer and kidney damage.
The Associated Press also reported on the story.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Wednesday December 09 2015, @12:56PM
The Uranium wasn't causing any trouble at all when it was locked up in the soil and rock. It only became a problem when fertilisers seeping into the ground caused the Uranium to escape from the rocks and leach into the water table. Now you have water that with uranium content 180 times the legal definition of safe. Pareto principle or not, I'd be buying bottled water if my taps were fed from that aquifer.
(Score: 2) by Dunbal on Wednesday December 09 2015, @04:35PM
Everyone buys bottled water anyway. Do people even drink tapwater anymore?
(Score: 3, Touché) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Wednesday December 09 2015, @04:37PM
I don't know anyone who habitually drinks bottled water.
Most bottled water is just tapwater anyway...
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Wednesday December 09 2015, @06:21PM
Tap water every day. But I have a well and the water tastes awesome. I've even had people bring jugs to fill. Fortunately, I don't draw from this aquifer, but I'm also now interested in how to test my water for this.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 09 2015, @08:18PM
Bottled water is tapwater. Why would anyone go to the extreme expense of filtering for uranium without reason? Bottled water would become as expensive as orange juice if this newly found problem spurs necessary action.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by mcgrew on Wednesday December 09 2015, @10:10PM
Bottled water? That shit's FILTHY. Not as bad as tap water (my tap water measures 136 ppm of contaminants), but at up to 60 ppm of contaminants it isn't clean. I have an expensive filter pitcher called zerowater that leaves less than one part per million contaminents, and came with a gizmo to test the water. If it reads over 6 ppm you're supposed to change the filter.
BUY bottled water?? I'm a nerd, I make my own and it's far better than I can buy.
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(Score: 3, Funny) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Thursday December 10 2015, @12:00PM
I make my own water too. I don't drink it, but you're welcome to try some if you want to.
(Score: 1) by BrockDockdale on Thursday December 10 2015, @08:30PM
Yes it was nice of God to create bottled water, a new totally separate type of water that doesn't come from the same place all the other water comes from.