[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Cites Valle Verde Water Company for Drinking Water Quality Violations in Santa Cruz County

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Cites Valle Verde Water Company for Drinking Water Quality
Violations in Santa Cruz County
For more information please contact Cortland Coleman: 602-771-4583

PHOENIX (June 19, 2007) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today announced that ADEQ has issued a
Notice of Violation (NOV) to Valle Verde Water Company for a series of
drinking water quality violations in Santa Cruz County.

 

ADEQ cited the Valle Verde Water Company for failing to conduct
mandatory water quality monitoring, installing portions of a drinking
water system without the required permits, serving drinking water to
customers in excess of standards, and failing to notify customers of
pollutant levels in excess of drinking water standards.  

 

Valle Verde Water Company has served drinking water tainted with
tetrachloroethylene, also known as PCE, to customers. PCE is an
industrial solvent, often used in dry cleaning. Consumption of PCE
tainted drinking water over many years could cause liver problems and
may increase a person's cancer risk. ADEQ has initiated a health
consultation with the Arizona Department of Health Services to better
understand the potential health impacts to customers of the Valle Verde
Water Company.

 

"These are significant drinking water violations," said Director Owens.
"ADEQ is committed to ensuring that the drinking water served by Valle
Verde to its customers is safe. Valle Verde must take action immediately
to correct this situation."

 

The NOV requires Valle Verde to submit the missing water quality
monitoring data, apply for the required permits and demonstrate that the
drinking water being served to the company's customers meets all
applicable health and safety standards.

 

A Notice of Violation is a compliance tool used by ADEQ to put a party
on notice that the agency believes a significant violation of
environmental law has occurred. 

 

Owens said that Valle Verde could face substantial financial penalties
for the water quality violations. 

 

-end-

 





 

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