For years, some homeowners in the Shaver Springs community say they have dealt with discolored water coming from their taps and they say the problem has become increasingly difficult to live with.
Residents tell FOX26 the water has stained clothes, toilets, showers and appliances orange.
Some say they have stopped drinking or cooking with tap water and make regular trips to purchase or fill containers with water they feel more comfortable using.
Shaver Springs community report orange tap water, Fresno County says water is safe. (Courtesy: FOX26 Viewer)
“It dyes all of our clothes orange. It dyes the toilets orange. It dyes the showers orange. Like your blonde hair becomes orange,” Shaver Springs resident Jennifer Taber said.
Shaver Springs community report orange tap water, Fresno County says water is safe. (Courtesy: FOX26 Viewer)
Another resident, Diona Yancey, said she recently filled several large water containers during a trip to Prather so her household would have water available for drinking and her dog.
“Not being able to cook with our water, barely being able to shower with our water is very disheartening and very uneasy, especially because you don’t know how it’s affecting your health,” Yancey said.
Taber and Yancey say they have long been aware of concerns involving uranium, gross alpha, iron and manganese. They say the discoloration has become more noticeable over time.
“The numbers have just progressively gotten higher,” Taber said.
The residents also provided FOX26 with a letter they say they recently received from Fresno County Waterworks District 40. The letter states that the water failed to meet a drinking water standard, while also stating there is no immediate risk and no need for residents to use an alternative water supply.
“I don’t think they’re giving enough facts of how severe the water really is,” Taber said.
“I call that hogwash. There is no way. I invite them all to come over here and cook their food within our homes and see what we see every single day,” she said.
The letter says gross alpha and uranium are naturally occurring and that the county is working with the state on grant funding and potential long-term solutions.
Residents say they want more information about the water and what the county is doing to address their concerns.
FOX26 took those concerns directly to Steven White, Fresno County’s director of Public Works and Planning.
White said the water is safe to drink and said the discoloration is caused by iron and manganese.
“It is completely safe to drink,” White said.
White described iron and manganese as secondary contaminants and said they are not considered contaminants that make the water unsafe to drink.
He said the county is continuing to evaluate treatment options, but treating iron and manganese would require significant infrastructure and ongoing operating costs.
“Water treatment alternatives for manganese and iron are challenging at best because you basically have to find the mechanism to filter it out of the water,” White said.
White also confirmed that the county does not currently have a treatment system designed for the iron and manganese issue.
“We don’t have a system designed yet. We’re looking at alternatives right now,” he said.
The county has also conducted multiple test wells to see whether another groundwater source could provide cleaner water.
White said those efforts were not successful in finding a source without the same constituents.
If another well is developed, White said, it could provide additional water needed by the district but may still contain the same naturally occurring constituents.
The county is also working with the state on potential grant funding. White said the county has been successful in securing grant assistance intended to help offset water rate increase costs for residents, but officials were still waiting for the state agreement and details about the amount of funding.
Taber said she offered to pay for an independent laboratory to test the water but said the county declined.
White said the county does not allow outside individuals to access or test its water infrastructure because it is considered critical infrastructure.
“We don’t allow anybody to come in unless it’s the state agency or another firm that is certified through the State of California that we are aware of and know about. That’s for the public’s best interest and that’s for their protection. If someone were to come in and test our infrastructure and something were to happen, who do we go after?” White said.
White also said the county conducts monthly bacteriological testing and that the results are publicly available.
He urged residents to work with county staff as officials continue looking for a solution.
“Trust us. Work with us,” White said.
White said residents with questions or concerns can contact the county directly and that officials will continue communicating with the community.