A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health has revealed alarming disparities in drinking water quality between Latino/a and non-Latino/a communities in California. The research, conducted by Sandy Sum, a Ph.D. candidate at UC Santa Barbara, found that community water systems (CWSs) serving majority Latino/a populations consistently exhibit higher and more variable levels of nitrate and arsenic contamination.
Sum’s analysis, spanning from 2007 to 2020, uncovered that drought conditions exacerbate these disparities. For CWSs serving more than 75% Latino/a populations, drought doubled the increase in nitrate concentrations. Surface water sources showed a particularly stark contrast, with majority Latino/a CWSs having a mean nitrate concentration of 2.2 mg/L in 2020, significantly higher than the 1.2 mg/L observed in non-majority Latino/a systems.
The differential effects he found” suggest that CWSs serving Latino/a communities are not mitigating elevated nitrate concentrations during drought conditions, which exacerbates existing disparities,” Sum explained. She added that this may reflect a lack of treatment infrastructure or resource constraints.
The study also highlighted the vulnerability of very small and privately operated CWSs serving Latino/a communities. These systems were found to be more susceptible to contamination during drought conditions.
Long-term exposure to contaminants like arsenic and nitrate is linked to increased risks of various diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Sum emphasized the need for enhanced drought resilience measures and further research to guide policy initiatives ensuring safe and equitable drinking water access, particularly for historically marginalized communities.
See “Impact of drought on drinking water contamination: Disparities found affecting Latino/a communities” (August 7, 2024)
