THERMAL, CA — After elevated levels of arsenic in the drinking water system at Oasis Mobile Home Park in Thermal had plagued residents' lives for numerous years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made a final delivery of bottled water to residents this week.
The agency stated it was "prepared to make a determination" that water was safe to drink, and intended to lift the emergency administrative order's water requirement.
The EPA issued a public notice online on Oct. 16 stating that lab analysis of collected sample results at the drinking water treatment facility revealed arsenic levels since 2023 were consistently at or below the maximum containment level of 10 parts per billion in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
"Based on these sampling results, EPA is prepared to make a determination that arsenic levels in the Oasis drinking water system no longer pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health of Oasis drinking water consumers," the agency stated. "EPA is also prepared to make a determination that residents may consume the water for drinking, cooking, bathing and brushing teeth."
A spokesperson for the EPA told City News Service that the EPA will continue to exercise oversight over drinking water maintenance, operations and future improvements. Additionally, the California State Water Resources Control Board's Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience Program made the final scheduled delivery of bottled waters to residents this week.
The mobile home park, located at 88740 70th Ave., within the Torres- Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe's reservation, had received three emergency administrative orders issued by the EPA between 2019 to 2021 for high levels of arsenic. In 2019, arsenic levels ranged from 16 ppb to 97 ppb from the groundwater that had naturally occurring arsenic.
Arsenic was described by the agency as a carcinogen that can cause lung, bladder and skin cancers as well as heart disease, diabetes and neurological damage.
After more than dozens of residents have moves out in previous years and a lawsuit to the park operators, Oasis park addressed the issue, including upgrades to its treatment system, adjusted treated water chemistry, installed new water storage tanks and maintained a consistent monthly flushing program through its fire hydrants, according to the EPA website.
More information can be found at epa.gov/pacific-southwest- media-center/oasis-mobile-home-park.
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