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Dr. Ruiz Calls for Strengthened Drinking Water Standards for Underserved Communities

July 30, 2020

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. advocated for improved drinking water standards to protect underserved communities like the Oasis Mobile Home Park in Thermal, California. Dr. Ruiz, who is also Vice-Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee, called for reforms to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to make clean drinking water more accessible and affordable during today's hearing entitled, "There's Something in the Water: Reforming Our Nation's Drinking Water Standards."

"We must have strong standards in place to prevent situations like the one in my district where residents in the Oasis Mobile Home Park had arsenic in their water," Dr. Ruiz said in the hearing. "Because of the EPA and their guidelines, they were able to identify that there was a problem and bring the water in the mobile home park to compliance. Without those guidelines and oversight, my constituents might still be drinking arsenic in their water."

You can watch Dr. Ruiz's remarks here.

Background:

Last year, high levels of arsenic – more than nine times the maximum contaminant level – were found in the Oasis Mobile Home Park drinking water system, posing a significant health risk to the residents.

The SDWA requires the EPA to set standards for naturally occurring and man-made contaminants in the nation's water supply. The statute also authorizes EPA to provide infrastructure funding, technical assistance, and guidance for states, water utilities, schools, and others. Congress last significantly amended SDWA in 1996.

Currently, national primary drinking water standards regulate more than 90 contaminants or contaminant groups, including microorganisms, disinfection byproducts, radionuclides, and heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead.

Earlier this month, Congressman Ruiz voted for H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, which included robust investments to improve water systems in disadvantaged communities like the Oasis Mobile Home Park.