San Juan weighs options to address nitrate levels

San Juan Bautista officials are set to consider four options Tuesday to deal with dangerously high levels of nitrate in drinking water.
In early May, San Juan Bautista announced that nitrate levels in one of the Mission City’s wells, No. 2, exceeded safe standards set forth by the state. Nitrates can come from natural, industrial or agricultural sources such as septic systems, storm water run-off or fertilizers. Water samples from April and May showed nitrate levels of 29 to 48 milligrams per liter, above the maximum contaminant level of 45 milligrams per liter. According to the city’s alert issued last month, nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.
San Juan City Manager Roger Grimsley on Friday was preparing a report for Tuesday’s council meeting where officials will weigh options to address the nitrate levels – ranging in cost from about $500,000 to $1.5 million, he said. The city has an annual general fund budget of $1.3 million.
“It’s very significant,” Grimsley said.
The four options include installing a reverse osmosis system on the wells, putting in an ionic exchange system, drilling a new well or developing an agreement with the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District for use of its well, Grimsley said.
The council meets at 6 p.m. at San Juan City Hall, 311 Second St.
For information, residents are asked to call the City of San Juan Bautista Water Department at (831) 623-4661 or reach it by mail at City of San Juan Bautista, P.O. Box 1420, San Juan Bautista, CA. 95045, Attention: Water Department.
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