[Photo: DWR]
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A partnership of state and local agencies finished connecting 755 homes to a safe, reliable, permanent water supply on Wednesday.
All households participating in the East Porterville Water Supply Project have now been connected to the City of Porterville’s municipal water system.
The Department of Water Resources’ Doug Carlson describes the situation for those living in the unincorporated East Porterville community, when hundreds of wells became dry or contaminated during the drought, leaving residents to resort to bottled water.
[Photo: DWR]“The people in your part of California don’t need to be reminded that you’re frequently called the “ground zero” of California’S five-year drought.” – Doug Carlson, Department of Water Resources.
In early 2016, three state agencies started working with community organizations to deliver a permanent solution to the water crisis.
“Hundreds of homes were at the mercy of Mother Nature as their wells ran dry. Urgent action was needed on the part of many agencies to find short and long-term solutions. It’s satisfying to see a long-term solution now in place for many homes, helping to mitigate the impacts of future droughts.” – Mark Ghilarducci, Director, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
[Photo: DWR]
The $48 million dollar “East Porterville Water Supply Project” began to provide a safe, reliable, and permanent water supply.
“It’s such a relief to have water flowing from the faucet and the shower again. It’s so easy to take it for granted, until it’s gone,” said Amelia Arroyo who received a water connection in January 2017.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
