By Michael Wafford, Arvin Tiller
After several years, the Arvin Community Services District will be receiving a grant for the Brown and Bryant Superfund site from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA will fund $2.5 million for the creation of a well to replace Well 1 which was contaminated by the superfund site. The superfund site was formerly the home of an agricultural chemical factory that created fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. While operating, an evaporation pond overflowed multiple times which allowed the chemicals to seep into the groundwater below. Because of this, the water for Well 1 was contaminated.
In a press release, General Manager Raul Bararaza said “These funds will be used to abandon and replace City Well No. 1, which was in danger of contamination, due to the proximity of the Brown and Bryant Superfund Site. The grant will be utilized to drill a new well, helping the District achieve their goal of delivering safe drinking water.”
The creation of a new well will also help the district in its plan to mitigate the amount of arsenic in the district’s water supply. In recent years, the district has constructed two new wells with arsenic levels below the maximum contaminant level.
“This is a huge accomplishment for the District, but an even greater accomplishment for the residents of Arvin as they have finally been rewarded after many years of waiting.” said Barraza. “This is a big step moving forward, as the District is in plans to drill an additional three new wells, which will help in fixing Arvin’s water quality issues.”
Barraza said, he would like to thank the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment and the Community for a Better Arvin for providing communiy support while the ACSD negotiated with the EPA.
“The District would like to recognize its Board of Directors, Legal Counsel Alan J. Peake, and Engineering Firm of Dee Jaspar and Associates, for working diligently to make sure the residents of Arvin received the most money possible to pay for a replacement well,” said Barraza
