Even with a brand new sink, facet, pipes and water meter residents of the small hamlet east of Exeter known as Tooleville can’t drink their water. Residents have been forced to buy water for years because of system contamination, all the while paying for tap water they can’t use.

Tooleville’s plea has so-far gone unanswered, but it’s something the City of Exeter may be able to do something about.

In a council work session held April 12 Exeter city council members listened to information from both city staff and Tooleville representatives on the current state of water in Tooleville. They also discussed ways in which Exeter might benefit from Tooleville residents tapping in.

Attorney Laurel Firestone spoke on behalf of the more than 350 residents of Tooleville. Firestone co-founded and co-directs the Community Water Center (CWC), a non-profit environmental justice organization located in Visalia. The CWC helps disadvantaged communities gain access to clean and affordable water. According to the Community Water Center, Tooleville is just one of at least 17 communities who share water concerns. The primary groundwater contaminant in the San Joaquin Valley is nitrate.

High levels of nitrate come from fertilizers, animal factory waste, and leaky septic systems. At concentrations that exceed the state and federal health standards, nitrate can cause death in infants less than 6 months old, stillbirths, and cancer in adults. Other common groundwater problems in the San Joaquin Valley include arsenic, DBCP, over-chlorination and contamination by bacteria and disinfectant byproducts, all of which can cause both long-term and short-term illnesses.

Tooleville’s two wells regularly do not meet the normal nitrate levels. Residents have tried drilling wells deeper, and in the surrounding areas, and cannot locate an aquifer with water under the Maximum Contaminant Level for nitrate.

“Tooleville has spent many years without safe drinking water,” said Firestone. “We’re not asking for a handout that costs Exeter anything. The alternatives we are looking at could potentially bring significant revenue into the city.”

The first alternative discussed during the work session included selling an older well that Exeter does not regularly use, but Firestone said that the department of public health, who would fund the project does not want to invest in an old well. The second alternative would be for Tooleville to dig their own well in Exeter. Another option would be for Exeter to sell water out of their system and then bill the residents of Tooleville at a higher rate. If the city chose to pursue the third alternative Tooleville residents would potentially still pay less than they are now. The alternatives will be researched in depth in the coming weeks.

The City of Exeter could potentially receive significant revenue from the project either way, without putting a stain on the city’s capacity. Whatever the alternative, a new distribution system and tank would have to be installed. Mayor Ted Macaulay pointed out that Exeter has plans for a new well in the city’s Southwest Plan. Firestone said that the department of public health will secure all grant funding for the project and will reimburse the city of Exeter for expenses.

“We all want a win-win situation with this,” said Firestone.

Council members came to a consensus and asked staff to look into the issue in greater detail.

“I personally like the idea of wheeling the water,” said Mayor Ted Macaulay. “And in the spirit of citizenship, I think we need to make sure Tooleville has safe water.”

For more information about the Community Water Center visit www.communitywatercenter.org.

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