CV-SALTS addressing salt and nitrate water quality challenges

Providing safe drinking water and managing water quality in the Central Valley for long-term sustainability.

The CV-SALTS Program is a collaborative initiative among business, government, and community organizations to address nitrate and salt accumulation affecting water supplies.

Who Are We?

CV-SALTS investigates salt and nitrate water quality challenges in the Central Valley and develops and recommends policies and actions to improve quality and efficiency for all users. The program includes representatives from growers, dairies, industries, local communities, government agencies, environmental and community organizations, and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

What Problems Do We Solve?

In some areas of the Valley, nitrate has accumulated in groundwater to the point that drinking water for rural households and small water systems does not meet safe standards. Across the Valley, rising salt levels threaten to turn this productive basin into a land where the water is not fit to drink and land not capable of growing crops.

What Are Our Goals?

Identify short- and long-term solutions to ensure safe drinking water in communities where groundwater is high in nitrate.
Reduce impacts from nitrate and salts to the groundwater.
Where reasonable and feasible, restore groundwater quality.