Cancer-Causing Chemical Still in Water at Wasco State Prison
Here at Wasco State Prison in California, I recently discovered the drinking water contains a cancer-causing chemical “1,2,3 T” or “Trichloropropane”. Which is a type of fuel. The CDCR has known this since at least 2017, when a violation of a quarterly water quality report was issued. The lab report showed higher levels of “1,2,3 T” then the “MCL” or Maximum Containment Level per the “Safe Drinking Water Act”.
CDCR was required to post a notification, which stated long-term consumption of the well water here at Wasco State Prison causes cancer, however they said bottled water is not needed, nor is it available. The “MCL” is .005 but the water contains in well 1 is .013 and well 2 is .024. Twice and four times the Maximum Containment Level. “In 2021 CDCR made a contract with a company ‘OBS’ to remove ‘1,2,3 Tcp’ in February 2022” as part of proposed CarbonAir/ProAir project” the lab report stated. As of date, 4/14/23, now nearly 7 years after the original finding of “1,2,3 Tcp” in 12/14/17 nothing has been done to clean the drinking water of Wasco State Prison.
Since this facility is a “reception center”, prisoners stay here before transfer to permanent housing locations at other prisons, therefore potentially 100’s of thousands have been exposed to contaminated drinking water, which is also used in the preparation of food in the kitchen and contaminates food as well. This is obviously cruel and unusual punishment and deliberate indifference, since CDCR knows of the issue putting prisoners at serious risk of injury, refuses to respond reasonably, and exposes prisoners to cancer-causing chemicals and injury, as well as the violations of conditions of confinement, basic human need of clean drinking water per “Clean Drinking Water Act”. I’ve grieved this issue to “exhaust administrative remedies”, and reached out to a dozen or more lawyers, yet have not received any answer in my pursuit to file a class action lawsuit. If you can assist me in this suit, and getting injunctive relief to demand clean water contact me please. I’m not giving giving up on my quest for justice.
