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Word still out on Diablo Grande water upgrades |
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Written by James Leonard / Patterson Irrigator
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Wednesday, 06 August 2008 |
If the Western Hills Water District has done anything recently to fix the water problems at Diablo Grande, it’s not saying so. And according to residents and the most recent results, the water is at best unchanged and — at worst — getting worse.
District president Dwain Sanders said July 10 that he expected to have a temporary fix in place by the end of July to put Diablo Grande’s water in compliance with state health standards.
Those changes included using powdered activated carbon to rid the water of dangerous chemical compounds and flushing pipes to prevent discoloration caused by stagnation. Sanders did not return a call Monday, and the state Department of Public Health could not confirm whether any changes had been put in place.
Meanwhile, Mark Weller, a Diablo Grande resident who has experienced health problems he believes to be at least partly related to the water, said it got even worse about two weeks ago.
“I jumped in the shower one night — which we try to do as little as possible — and the water had changed,” Weller said. “It smelled different. It tasted different. All the tender parts of my skin instantly stung.
“I don’t know if they added more chlorine or what. They don’t tell us.”
Residents are running out of patience with the water, which has been claimed to cause ailments ranging from dry skin and hair to heart palpitations and migraines. But they’re also frustrated about the lack of communication from the district.
“I don’t know that (the water quality has) gone either way, personally,” Kristina Ross-Ortiz said. “I’d like to get some actual results to see if there’s improvement or not. Hopefully, they are doing what they’re saying they’re doing.”
No recent testing has been done since the July 10 meeting to see whether the water was still over the state’s allowable threshold of trihalomethanes — a chemical compound that can lead to cancer or other serious health ailments if consumed over a period of many years. But last week, the Department of Public Health did receive the results from the most recent testing, and they’re not good.
Results for the second quarter of 2008, a period that ended June 18, showed Diablo Grande’s water with a trihalomethane count of 101.8 parts per billion — well above the state’s limit of 80 parts per billion.
It was the third time in the past four quarterly tests that the number — which represents a running 12-month average — has increased, and it marked the highest trihalomethane level Diablo Grande has had in nearly two years.
Western Hills was fined $1,000 by the state on June 20 for exceeding 80 ppb in trihalomethanes over most of the past several years. According to Lea Brooks, public information officer for the Department of Public Health, that fine has not been paid.
“The fine was more or less to get their attention,” Brooks said. “We’d rather have them spend money to fix the problem than pay the fine. That’s more important.”
The state did get the district’s cooperation on one issue. On July 21, the district received a citation from the state for not submitting required monthly reports for May and June on the amount of coliform bacteria in its water. Brooks said those reports were submitted after the citation was received, and the district is and always has been in compliance on those bacteria levels.
Another factor complicating the water issue is Diablo Grande’s bankruptcy and impending sale. The project, which includes the Western Hills Water District, is set to be sold by way of a sealed-bid auction later this month.
What happens to the water after that will depend on the buyer. Until then, everyone’s just hoping it gets better.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that the drinking water system meets all standards,” Brooks said.
“Right now, they’re out of compliance. We have cited them, we have fined them, and we’re monitoring them. Right now, we’re exploring our options.”
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o ask yourself ONE question, how is it possible so many people have all the same symptoms having never met before the first water meeting?". 
