*Published Friday, June 19, 2026*

On June 15, the California State Water Resources Control Board released the revised draft dairy order for the Central Valley designed to protect groundwater from nitrate contamination caused by dairy manure. The order introduces stricter nitrogen limits, requires dairies to provide drinking water for nitrate-affected wells, regulates manure application to cropland and mandates tighter nitrogen monitoring to ensure dairy manure retention ponds do not leach at rates that impact groundwater. The state water board will hold a workshop to discuss the revised draft order on July 8. Written comments are due on July 30.  The state water board will meet on Sept. 15 to consider adopting the order. The draft order is available here.

Staff contact: Kari Fisher, [kfisher@cfbf.com](mailto:kfisher@cfbf.com).

State Water Board Releases Revised Dairy Order

https://mura.cfbf.com/index.cfm/_api/json/v1/cfbv2/content/B3C606F7-4E37-4576-BB6FA06C8C6BB304/relatedcontent

The California State Water Resources Control Board has released a revised draft dairy order for the Central Valley that would impose new requirements on nitrogen management, groundwater protection and drinking water replacement. A workshop is scheduled for July 8, comments are due July 30, and adoption is expected to be considered in September.

State Water Board Releases Revised Dairy Order

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