Erin Brockovich Speaks Out Against Nipomo’s Water Transition to a Chloramine System

Comments posted by well-known environmental activist Erin Brockovich on her Facebook account has created a storm of controversy, and caught the attention of Nipomo residents regarding the City’s decision to transition from using a chlorine water disinfection system to a chloramine system.

Brockovich posted the following statement on Facebook:

“Water Consumers in Nipomo, California…YOU ARE BEING LIED TO! September 1, 2015… you will start drinking dangerous toxic ammonia and fluoride. WHY?“

“Nipomo Community Services District Manager Michael LeBrun is telling you lies because he doesn’t know what he is talking about. “Chlorine is more volatile, and so you’ll get a taste or odor if you have a chlorinated water supply,” lied LeBrun. What you taste and smell are disinfection byproducts… chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, and dibromochloromethane…NOT CHLORINE!!!“

“Officials further lied saying chloramine is a quicker and more effective way to disinfect the water. TRUTH… Chloramine is a slower and much weaker disinfectant. Further…the chlorine breaks down but the ammonia does not… it becomes food for the biofilm and bacteria in the water pipes, your water heaters and your homes.“

“I could go on and on…when will they just stop lying.”

“They are adding the ammonia to the drinking water to sequester the chemical reactions that form toxic disinfection byproducts and comply with drinking water regulations… not for any other reason. The USEPA told them to clean the water to reduce the precursor organics…but instead they chose to go cheap…rather then clean the water they add the ammonia.”

“Now you will be exposed to toxins potentially 10,000 times more toxic than the byproducts formed by chlorine alone. And as for the fluoride…do your own research…what a ridiculous waste and frankly…damn shame.“

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Nipomo Community Services District issued the following statement regarding this matter:

“Santa Maria and public water supply systems throughout the USA and world that use surface water often use chloramine to disinfect their water because it is safer and is needed to meet water quality requirements. Because we are receiving water that has been disinfected by the City of Santa Maria with Chloramine, health standards require the District to use the same type of disinfection throughout our system.”

“Your water will continue to be safe. Chloramine is safe for public use and is a widely accepted disinfection practice for maintaining a healthy water supply. In the U.S., chloramine has been used by water utilities for about 90 years, and its
use is closely regulated.”

“More than one in five Americans uses drinking water treated with chloramine. Santa Maria has safely used chloramine for about a decade, and prominent cities like Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C all use chloramine.”

“Your Water Undergoes intensive water quality testing and monitoring around the clock. Your water quality is overseen 24/7 by state certified water quality professionals. They test the water at each well and pipeline that we receive it from,
within the pipelines as we distribute it, and even in some homes. They conduct thousands of tests: some hourly, and others daily, weekly, and yearly.“

The CSD does note in the statement that certain populations need to take extra precautions when drinking water treated with either chlorine or chloramine:

“Although it is safe for dialysis patients to drink water containing chlorine or chloramine, it is not safe to have it directly enter their bloodstream through the dialysis process. Individuals with kidney disease undergoing in-home dialysis treatment on artificial kidney machines should contact their healthcare professional.”

“Additionally, chloramines, like chlorine, are toxic to fish and aquatic life. Before utilizing District water for pet fish or aquatic life, local pet or fish shops should be contacted to determine the best measures to remove chloramines.”

The water district has been working with local health departments to notify those that could potentially be affected.

BROCKOVICH ISSUES CHALLENGE TO NIPOMO WATER DISTRICT

Brockovich is challenging the Nipomo Community Service District to a transparent town hall meeting with area residents to discuss the new chloramine water system which took effect on Tuesday, September 1.

Brockovich issued the following:

“Here is my challenge…in the next few weeks…I’ll grab my water guy, and let’s have the Nipomo Community Services District get their best expert…and let’s have a public meeting and openly talk about the pros and cons concerning the use of Chloramine as a disinfectant… heck bring the Santa Maria water guys and the gang from the Central Coast Water Authority. Heck, maybe the Division of Drinking Water might want to come out. I am all about transparency…it’s all on the table… it will be the publics meeting to ask all the questions and get all the answers provided by both sides of the issue.”

We of course, will continue to follow this story very closely, and bring you the latest details and updates.