If groundwater contamination allegedly caused by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) rocket research is ongoing and contaminants exceed permissible levels, it could cause cancer among residents, according to a California State University economics professor.
Caltech, which operates JPL, was sued by the city of Pasadena last year over toxins discovered in some of the city of Pasadena’s groundwater, according to media reports.
“If it’s proven in court to be true, the health of local residents is at stake,” said Gokce Soydemir, an economics professor at California State University in Stanislaus who is Foster Farms endowed.
The complaint alleges that JPL discharged wastewater that was contaminated with toxic chemicals, such as 1,2,3- trichloropropane, perchlorate, and carbon tetrachloride.
“I've seen that campus and the university’s economic impact on the city is humongous,” Soydemir told the Southern California Record. “Students live there and the university has staff. All of that brings the economy of the local county up in terms of tax revenues. I'm sure the local government isn’t saying pack your stuff and leave. They're doing more good there than bad but this is water, so it's very critical.”
Pasadena Now reported that a drought emergency was declared in November 2021 in which conservation measures were advised to reduce water usage.
“If they don't want to pay for water at a higher cost so, then they are tapping into groundwater, which is lower quality,” Soydemir added. “If there was no drought, they would be using common sources of water and we wouldn't find ourselves in this situation. I think that's what's happening. The drought is driving them in this direction.”
The city, which reportedly secures 40% of its supply from local groundwater and acquires about 60% from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), alleges in its lawsuit that contaminants have migrated south and have polluted a number of wells throughout Pasadena.
“If any of the city’s remaining wells experience problems that require them to be shut down for repair, the city will be forced to purchase more costly MWD water than it currently anticipates, rather than shifting to other wells, as it would have prior to the advent of contamination impacts limiting its operational flexibility,” the complaint states.
Caltech told Pasadena Now that it values its relationship with the City of Pasadena and its residents.
"We have a longstanding commitment to protecting the environment and will continue to work with local, state, and federal authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of the Pasadena community," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We take the allegations in the complaint seriously, but remain confident in the efforts that have been undertaken to support the wellbeing of the community.”