SERIES: Farm fertilizers contaminate thousands of wells in the Salinas Valley

KAZU | By Erin Malsbury

Published February 17, 2026 at 12:38 PM PST

Photo shows a man crouched near a metal pipe, pouring water from a spigot into a plastic bucket. Behind him are produce fields. — Drew McCown gets a well ready for sampling at a Salinas Valley farm.

This three-part series explores the effects of groundwater contamination in the Salinas Valley.

Fertilizer applied to farm fields has contaminated drinking water for over 14,000 people and made nearby farmworker communities sick.

Water managers are looking for long-term solutions, but many residents are frustrated by years of delays.

Part 1: Farm fertilizers contaminate thousands of wells in the Salinas Valley (Sept. 3, 2025)

Part 2: Solutions for Salinas Valley groundwater contamination exist, but adoption is slow (Sept. 4, 2025)

Part 3: Central Coast water board seeks alternatives for residents with contaminated wells (Sept. 5, 2025)

KAZU News

Erin Malsbury

Erin is an award-winning journalist and photographer. She's written for local and national outlets, including the Smithsonian and Science Magazine. She has a master's degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

See stories by Erin Malsbury