Rep. Baca Continues Call for Action on Perchlorate Contamination; Attends Congressional Field Hearing on Water Quality in Southern California

Press Release

Rep. Baca Continues Call for Action on Perchlorate Contamination; Attends Congressional Field Hearing on Water Quality in Southern California

Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) today participated in an oversight field hearing of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee to focus attention on the impact of perchlorate contamination and the regional water supply.

Rep. Baca said, "Many families in Southern California, including my family in Rialto, are concerned about the quality and safety of the water we drink. Perchlorate has contaminated sources in Rialto, Fontana and Colton in my district and other areas, making the water unsafe. It is important that Congress understands the problem and works on solutions, so I thank Rep. Napolitano for scheduling this field hearing."

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk) chairs the Water and Power Subcommittee and scheduled the field hearing.

Rep. Baca has been a leader in Congress on perchlorate cleanup and has previously secured federal funding to clean up contaminated sources. This year he introduced the Inland Empire Water Preservation Act (H.R. 13), which would require the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study to determine how to clean up water sources in Rialto, Fontana and Colton that have been contaminated by perchlorate.

The discovery of perchlorate in the Rialto and Chino groundwater basins at levels exceeding state and federal health standards forced cities and water utilities to close 22 wells in the area.

Perchlorate, a rocket fuel additive, is a volatile organic compound that has been found to be harmful to humans as it interferes with thyroid function. According to experts, 90% of the perchlorate found in water comes from a federal source, primarily from former military sites and other Department of Defense (DOD) installations.

Today¡¯s hearing consisted of two panels of witnesses presenting testimony. Among the panelists were Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca, Jr. and Anthony Araiza from the West Valley Water District.

Councilman Baca expressed concern that much of the perchlorate contamination cleanup has been paid by Rialto residents. "We need to find solutions that will allow us to cleanup our groundwater contamination in a timely manner. The monthly $6.80 perchlorate flat fee, in addition to the formula for big water users, is an added financial burden for Rialto residents," said Councilman Baca. "Rialto residents are largely low-income. They are barely making it through these difficult financial times. They are struggling to meet the high cost of living that has already been brought on by the cost of housing, utilities, and fuel."

Anthony Araiza also expressed concern over the same issue. "More water wells are expected to shut down in the future. Due to the crisis, citizens are paying the investigation of the contamination. We need federal assistance to assist in our efforts."

The full list of witnesses is provided below.

Panel 1: Overview of Regional Perchlorate Contamination and Regional Water Supply Outlook

The Honorable Joe Baca, Jr., Councilman, City of Rialto, CA

Celeste Cantu¡ä, Executive Director, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, Riverside, CA

Robert DeLoach, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Cucamonga Valley Water

District, Rancho Cucamonga

Penny Newman, Executive Director, Center for Community Action and Environmental

Justice, Riverside, CA

Phil Wyels, Assistant Chief Counsel, State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA

Panel 2: Local Water Supply Impacts from Perchlorate; Options for Treatment; and Long-Term Outlook for the Water Supply

Brad Coffey, Water Treatment Section Manager, Metropolitan Water District, Los Angeles, CA

Anthony W. Araiza, General Manager-Secretary, West Valley Water District, Rialto, CA

Bob Martin, General Manager, East Valley Water District, Highland, CA

Michael Whitehead, Board Member, San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, West Covina, CA

*** Dr. Robert Krieger, Personal Chemical Exposure Program, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA ¨C Will be submitting written testimony to the record.

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