Nestled in a residential neighborhood in Earlimart is a troubled well on Mary Ann Avenue. A neighbor placed the angel.
jwalker@fresnobee.com
Do you have questions about tap water in Earlimart, California?
Here’s what you need to know about water quality, a recent boil-water notice, and who to call when you have a problem with your drinking water.
Reporters with The Fresno Bee created this guide to frequently asked questions after residents said they lacked clear information about their water.
Please let us know if you have additional questions or comments by using the form below or by clicking here.
Q: Where does Earlimart’s water come from?
A: The Earlimart Public Utility District provides water service to more than 8,000 residents and dozens of businesses in the town of Earlimart.
All the tap water is groundwater. It comes from deep underground aquifers in the Tule Subbasin, pumped to the surface with wells and delivered to homes through pipes.
Q: Why did I lose water service in late May?
A: Several residents said their water service failed a few times in late May.
Officials say a well on Mary Ann Avenue broke and it wasn’t pumping water. There was gravel in the pump and when they looked down the well with a camera they found out the casing had failed.
The water came back on when the district turned another well on that had been off.
Q: Why was there a boil-water notice?
A: Water users in Earlimart were told to use bottled water or to boil their tap water before cooking or drinking it from May 28 to June 8.
State regulators said there might have been bacteria in the water system after their was an outage. Boiling water kills bacteria and prevents stomach and intestinal illness.
The boil notice was canceled after testing showed there was no bacteria, according to state regulators.
Q: Is my water safe to drink?
A: Some of the water in Earlimart currently comes from a well that is contaminated with a toxic substance with known health risks after long-term exposure. It is polluted with 123-TCP, a chemical from an old pesticide.
Earlimart water came from the contaminated well for years until it was turned off in 2018. That’s when the state began regulating TCP. The well was turned back on in May 2020.
Q: What can I do to improve the water?
A: If you have low water pressure or are concerned about your water quality, you have a few options.
Report the problem
Call your water service provider, the Earlimart Public Utility District, at 661-849-2663. If the problem continues, you can file a complaint to the Tulare District office of the state Water Resources Control Board at 559-447-3300.
You might be asked to provide your name and address so regulators can trace the cause of the water problem. You can leave an anonymous message. You don’t have to give your personal information to inform state regulators of a problem. Spanish language is available.
Attend a public meeting
You can go to a public meeting of the Board of Directors of the Earlimart Public Utility District and make a public comment about the water service or ask questions. If you are a water customer, they work for you.
Meetings are generally held at 2 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the utility office at 396 N Church Road Suite No. 6. By law, an agenda should be posted on the door of the utility building at least 72 hours before the meeting.
Reduce exposure
You can reduce exposure to water contaminants by drinking and cooking with bottled water. Certain filters that use activated carbon, like a Brita filter, can remove TCP contamination from your tap water. However, the filter has to be changed frequently.