The Valley Water Collaborative (VWC) was given the green light last week to install a free water container fill station at the Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
A goal of VWC’s Well Testing and Drinking Water Program, under the Nitrate Control Program (NCP), is to provide an alternative source for safe drinking and cooking water that may be accessed by any resident. The installation of a water fill station to meet the drinking and cooking water needs of as many residents as possible is a reliable option, approved by the state Regional Water Quality Board, and supported by the community.
Any resident would be able to bring their water bottles to fill them with filtered city water as often as possible at no cost to them.
The fill stations consist of stand-alone kiosks with all-weather accessibility and protection, connection to the city water system, capable of filling one- to five-gallon containers with VWC hiring a local vendor/entity to perform regular cleaning and maintenance. VWC would also pay the city for the water dispensed and any other costs.
While Councilwoman Cerina Otero liked the idea of a fill station, she expressed concern about the choice of installing it at that park, feeling it might exacerbate the homeless problem in that area. She asked about other options.
Public Works Director Sam Royal said the park was chosen due to its closer proximity to rural residents who rely on wells which can experience high nitrates in the water supply.
Ceres Public Works Supt. Joshua Casas explained that VWC identified River Bluff Park as being best to cater to the needs of those with questionable well water “who don’t have access currently to clean drinking water.”
Parry Klassen, executive director of VWC, said all around the city limits “all the way down through Hilmar we have a band of contaminated groundwater. All the private wells that access that water are delivering high nitrate water to the residents of those homes.”
He explained that VWC is currently providing free bottled water to dozens of rural homes from Hughson to Hilmar but many don’t want to be involved because their well information must be tracked by Geotracker, a state website, and they are concerned about privacy.
Giving them the option of coming to the park for free water eliminates that concern, said Klassen.
He suggested that his agency is open to other locations but public locations are preferable to private property.
The VWC is offering the fill stations to show the state that local governments are mitigating the nitrate problem.
Ceres resident John Warren worried about the impact to the water fill kiosk businesses in Ceres. He also wondered if park hours would change.
Royal said the park hours will remain open dawn to dusk and not be changed.
Otero voted no on the program due to her concerns about the park site chosen.
