By Caroline Majewski, Publishing Associate: Researcher and Writer at Save the Water™ | February 28, 2025
Edited by Joshua Awolaye, Publishing Associate: Editor at Save the Water™
The California State Water Resources Control Board has proposed new water quality regulations for California dairies. These new regulations expand on some orders from 2007. They want to apply these laws to all California dairy farms that “apply” their manure, fertilizer, and wastewater to the land.
Additionally, these laws also aim to lower nitrate contamination and limit salt leaching in the state’s groundwater. The hope is that drinking water, often polluted by dairy factory waste, will be safer for the public.
Furthermore, in the United States, manure management in milk production is one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gases. In 2007, manure released 327,287,000 kg of nitrogen, and the latest figures from 2017 stand at 323,935,000 kilograms. Before these rules were applied, the effects of the area’s dairy industry practices were quite concerning.
Dairy Regulation Proposal
As of now, the rules apply to only existing milk-cow dairy farms in the Central Valley region. It’s also a change from viewing manure as fertilizer to waste. The first state order was released in 2007 but didn’t apply to all dairies. This new one will require all dairies to meet a nitrogen discharge limit of 10 milligrams per liter. As a result, this limit would then match with the drinking water standard.
These new rules for waste around ponds and lagoons require dairy farms to provide alternative drinking water for affected people. They also enforce stricter regulations on waste retention.
Challenges to the New Rules
Not everyone is happy with this new proposal. The California Farm Bureau submitted a letter asking for an alternative, stating that the proposed law is unreasonable. They believe it would raise the costs of their dairies too much. Two concerns the farmers listed were:
- Retrofitting waste retention ponds was an economic burden
- Misleading about the use and value of manure
They also want the board leaders to be from the region.
Lastly, some guidelines overlap with CV-SALTS (Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long Term Sustainability), which are already in place. These overlaps are one of the reasons farmers are opposing the new regulations.
While they are hesitant to adapt to the new rules, the dairy sector is taking other actions. They are putting money into researching well testing and constructing anaerobic digesters which would reduce emissions.
Moreover, dairy manure makes up one-third of total nitrogen applied to agricultural lands in the Central Valley. As of 2021, the dairy industry produced 7.57 billion dollars from milk production.
In summary, on one hand, the proposal seeks to tighten restrictions and change some existing protocols. On the other hand, it also argues that costs are too high and waste uses are misrepresented.
Impact on Society and Future Steps
But how do these practices from dairy farms affect regular people? It can damage plant life by causing excessive growth (like algal blooms) which can lead to outbreaks of insects. In addition, it can also lower fruit production and quality making plant roots more prone to damage.
Furthermore, in people, it is linked to various health issues:
- Cancers
- Reproductive issues
- Hypothyroidism
- Blue baby syndrome
- Ingestion risks for infants
Lastly, beyond these physical impacts, it is also mentally stressful for people who worry about their safety. Nitrate is colorless and tasteless, making it difficult for the average person to detect worrisome levels.
Stakeholders will provide input in 2025 or early 2026, finalizing the regulation. They point out that they hope the Board will “work directly with leaders and representatives of potentially impacted communities to ensure that the Central Valley Water Board is engaging in truly equitable and culturally relevant community outreach to promote meaningful civic engagement with those communities at all stages of its development of the revised dairy general waste discharge requirements” highlighting the Water Code section 189.7.
