Knight Fights for Clean Water in Santa Clarita

Press Release

Representative Steve Knight (CA-25) sent a letter on Wednesday to Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick of the Army Corps of Engineers requesting assistance with a longstanding effort to clean the Eastern Santa Clara River Basin.

The letter, written at the behest of the Castaic Water Agency, asserts that numerous drinking water wells in Santa Clarita have been shut down because they are contaminated with potentially harmful chemicals known as Perchlorates that were improperly disposed of after the Cold War. It outlines the staggering economic and environmental costs of this contamination to the area and notes that it exasperates the current drought crisis in the state. While there have been efforts to remedy the situation, Knight explains, more needs to be done.

"Californians, particularly the members of the communities I represent, are suffering from this drought. Any effort to increase our drinking water supply should be pursued," said Congressman Knight.

The next phase in the cleanup process, Knight states in the letter, involves the Saugus Groundwater Wells Project, which would help replace nearly 5.4 million gallons per day of potable groundwater of lost capacity. He then asks that the Army Corps of Engineers make this project a priority and commit funding to it.

"This project would provide a huge amount of relief to Santa Clarita and the surrounding areas," continued Knight.

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