Can water ever be too clean? If the intent is to store it underground, the answer, surprisingly, is yes.
In a new study, scientists show that recycled water percolating into underground storage aquifers in Southern California picked up trace amounts of arsenic because the water was too pure.
The research, published online in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, sheds light on a poorly understood aspect of groundwater recharge with purified recycled water, namely the potential mobilization of arsenic. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can cause organ failure and cancer in humans with prolonged exposure above established health thresholds.
Coping With Drought
The finding has implications beyond California, as more communities are increasingly tapping into and actively managing their groundwater resources to combat drought and dwindling water supplies.
