INFO on ARSENIC in the water at VSPW
A new notice came out from the State Water Board regarding water testing at VSPW. The flier has been copied here for Visitors:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Este informe contiene information muy importante sobre su agua potable.
Traduzcalo o halble con alguien que lo entienda bien.
| Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) Has Levels of Arsenic Above the Drinking Water Standard |
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what you should do, what happened, and what we are doing to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Water sample results received on 1st and 2nd quarter, January & April, 2009 Well #2 showed arsenic levels (MCL) of 0.001 milligrams per liter. This is above the U.S. EPA standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.010 milligrams per liter.
What should I do?
• You do not need to use an alternative water supply (e.g., bottled water).
• This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the
MCL over many years may experience skin damage or circulatory system problems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
• If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.
What happened? What is being done?
VSPW is working with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Facilities Management Division on engineering a arsenic reduction system for institutional Wells #1 & 2. We anticipate resolving the problem within 18 months to 36 months.
For more information, please contact Aldo Garza, Correctional Plant Supervisor at 6179 or the Southern California Drinking Water Field Operations Branch, Att. Kassy Chauhan, Associate Sanitary Engineer, 265 W. Bullard Avenue, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93704, Phone (559) 447-3316 Fax (559) 447-3304, e-mail
kassy.chauhan@chph.ca.gov
Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
Secondary Notification Requirements
Upon receipt of notification from a person operating a public water system, the following notification must be given within 10 days [Health and Safety Code Section 116450(g)]:
• SCHOOLS: Must notify school employees, students, and parents (if the students are minors).
• RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR MANAGERS (including nursing homes and care facilities): Must notify tenants.
• BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS, MANAGERS, OR OPERATORS: Must notify employees of businesses located on the property.
This notice is being sent to you by [VSPW].
State Water System ID#: 2010801 . Date distributed: June 18, 2009.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Water sample results received on 1st and 2nd quarter, January & April, 2009 Well #2 showed arsenic levels (MCL) of 0.001 milligrams per liter. This is above the U.S. EPA standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.010 milligrams per liter.
What should I do?
• You do not need to use an alternative water supply (e.g., bottled water).
• This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the
MCL over many years may experience skin damage or circulatory system problems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
• If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.
What happened? What is being done?
VSPW is working with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Facilities Management Division on engineering a arsenic reduction system for institutional Wells #1 & 2. We anticipate resolving the problem within 18 months to 36 months.
For more information, please contact Aldo Garza, Correctional Plant Supervisor at 6179 or the Southern California Drinking Water Field Operations Branch, Att. Kassy Chauhan, Associate Sanitary Engineer, 265 W. Bullard Avenue, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93704, Phone (559) 447-3316 Fax (559) 447-3304, e-mail
kassy.chauhan@chph.ca.gov
Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
Secondary Notification Requirements
Upon receipt of notification from a person operating a public water system, the following notification must be given within 10 days [Health and Safety Code Section 116450(g)]:
• SCHOOLS: Must notify school employees, students, and parents (if the students are minors).
• RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR MANAGERS (including nursing homes and care facilities): Must notify tenants.
• BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS, MANAGERS, OR OPERATORS: Must notify employees of businesses located on the property.
This notice is being sent to you by [VSPW].
State Water System ID#: 2010801 . Date distributed: June 18, 2009.
The inmates of VSPW have filed a class action 602 appeal regarding the arsenic issue. The following information is part of the appeal. This is simply For Your Information, and does not represent any action at this time.
This 602 was filed on July 1, 2009. Information about the resolution of this 602 is pending. We will provide more information as it is received.
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INMATE/PAROLEE APPEAL RE: DRINKING WATER DATE: JULY 1, 2009 A. Describe Problem: Due to the drinking water in VSPW exceeding the maximum contaminated levels for a healthy standard to drink, we differ with the opinion that arsenic, bacteria, and/or any other contaminants above the EPA standard “isn’t an emergency”. Many women in this prison, including myself, have already had severe skin problems for the past couple years (dry scaled patches that refuse to go away), that we have numerous times inquired a doctor about, and this skin problem seems to be a “puzzle” to the medical department. One doctor suggested to me that it “could be the water”, and his opinion was based on the fact that he had seen similar complaints from other women in here. That was more than a year ago. I still have the strange dry patches that have never been diagnosed. Our concern is, according to the notification of the water being contaminated, VSPW has known at least since January 2009 that the wells had arsenic levels above a healthy drinking standard, and we were not notified immediately. In addition, we are told that this problem could take “up to 36 months ” to resolve, and , that drinking this water “for years” above the maximum contaminant level, “can result in skin damage, circulatory system problems, and an increased risk of cancer.” It should also be noted that arsenic is known to stay in the body forever – it never leaves your system. Thus, over an accumulated period of time, it stands to reason that those of us who have to drink this water for the next three years while this issue is “being resolved”, are at serious risk. Three years is too long to play with our health, while a problem of this magnitude is being looked into. If a more proactive approach is not taken to this situation, it will surely surely result in high medical costs and possible law suits later. Give us something that will ease our minds a little about taking a more definitive approach to a quicker solution. Give us the aid necessary to help make our water cleaner. Enclosed you will find 700 signatures on 20 pages, of women who reside in VSPW who take this issue seriously. B. Action Requested: All four suggestions are being requested: 1. Add to the matrix a clear plastic pitcher with a Britta type water filter . 2. Put back on the Matrix plastic hot pots to boil water in for contaminants such as bacteria. 3. Give out free bottled water to drink until the MCL goes down to the EPA standard . 4. Test for arsenic levels in our system for those with this skin problem. |