Posted: Mar 16, 2011 9:59 PM
By: Rich Rodriguez
A just–released water investigation finds that unincorporated valley
communities have well water that can make you sick. East Orosi is an
unincorporated community with low income residents. Locals say there
are 75 to 100 homes in the neighborhood.
The water in East Orosi is contaminated with nitrates. Bertha Diaz has been
dealing with the problem since 2002. "We don't use it for cooking. We always buy
bottled water from the store."
Oakland based Pacific Institute has been studying water in the
valley. In Tulare County it discovered ten tiny communities have
contaminated water. From north to south fertilizers, pesticides and
sewage have tainted the wells.
Maria Herrera is with the Community Water Center in Visalia. "By far
nitrate is the most common contaminant in the area and it's also the number one
reason for well closure in the state."
Community Water center is an environmental justice non–profit that has worked
with the Pacific Institute on the study. Herrera offered this eye–opener
about nitrates. "They don't have a taste odor to them so most of the time
when you have these two bottles people will avoid the brown water but in reality
it's actually safer to drink than the clear water. This is the water
that a lot of our residents are getting out of their tap."
Elijio Adame of East Orosi buys ten gallons of bottled water a
week. But there's no replacement water for showering.
"Sometimes when you bathe after awhile you feel like your body itches."
East Orosi is one of ten communities in Tulare County with unsafe drinking
water due to nitrates. Due to California's financial challenges the
study determined that money for cleanup projects won't be coming anytime
soon