Perchlorate Could Halt Development Across U.S.

"Several of the nation's fastest-growing areas -- including Las Vegas, Texas and Southern California -- could face debilitating water shortages because of groundwater contamination by perchlorate, the main ingredient of solid rocket fuel... The perennial California constraint is water, so the discovery of perchlorate in cherished underground aquifers throughout Southern California -- and in the mighty Colorado River itself, the water source for more than 15 million households in the region -- is raising alarm. The city of Rialto in San Bernardino County, for example, has lost half its water capacity to perchlorate contamination in recent months, with an additional 10% to 20% of its supply under threat from the spreading plume. Rialto and several nearby cities and water utilities have asked the Pentagon and defense contractors believed responsible for the pollution for emergency funds to buy replacement water, but have so far been denied." Editor's note: this article is only available to WSJ subscribers.