‘It’s still contaminated’: East Bakersfield residents fear the worst after water shutoff

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Water is back for over 200 homes that suffered blistering heat without water for days.

Initially, after the shutdown of Victory Mutual Water Company wells, East Niles Community Services District temporarily provided water through an emergency contract. Now that setup is gone, but residents say they weren’t notified that Victory Mutual is back providing the water.

“It could be East Niles or switch to Victory Mutual right now at any moment,” said Dayna Hernandez, a resident who was affected. “It could be dirty…no clue.”

Last week, county health officials notified residents to boil water for drinking and cooking to avoid stomach illnesses.

That notice was lifted, but many say they are still taking precautions.

“It’s always cloudy, it’s always white, that’s how it comes out no matter what,” said Hernandez.

Nick Salas, who’s girlfriend lives nearby, has noticed the contaminated water.

“It’s just hard to stay away from because it’s what you’re used to, so it’s hard to grab a water bottle and use it to brush your teeth, wash out your mouth or put it in your hair,” said Salas. “It looks fine, but we all know its still contaminated.”

17 News reached out to Victory Mutual and they confirmed that the water system has been taken back over. East Niles is no longer temporarily providing water. When we asked for more information a Victory Mutual spokesperson said they had “no comment”.

Dayna Hernandez says the company’s president, Bill White, has also refused to answer the residents’ questions.

“He didn’t care, from what I heard he said we could die tomorrow,” said Hernandez. “It’s not his problem, he doesn’t have to send out a notice”

Which is why residents fear without answers, it could happen again.

“It’s happened in the past, it happens all the time,” said Hernandez. “They turn it off all the time, sometimes multiple times in a month and we don’t know why or what’s happening.”

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