The water flowing from taps across America’s heartland carries a hidden history. Every drop has filtered through layers of sediment, picking up minerals along the way. Now scientists have discovered that agricultural chemicals may be altering what the water carries into homes.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have uncovered a troubling connection between farm runoff and naturally occurring uranium in aquifers. Their findings reveal how nitrate from fertilizers and animal waste can trigger the release of uranium into groundwater supplies.
The science behind the contamination
The team, led by associate professor Karrie Weber, collected sediment cores from the High Plains Aquifer near Alda, Nebraska. This vast underground reservoir supplies drinking water to millions of people across eight states…