Stanislaus students create displays promoting free water for homes with tainted wells
Displays created by high school students will publicize a program that supplies free bottled water to homes with polluted wells.
The Valley Water Collaborative, which runs the program in parts of Stanislaus and Merced counties, held a contest among the students. It was won by a seven-member team from Central Valley High School in Ceres, which split the $2,000 prize.
The team incorporated three empty jugs in its display, as stated in the rules, and added an old-fashioned well with a bucket suspended by a string.
“Wishing for clean water?” part of the text said. “Well, you’re in luck.”
The contest drew five displays, which will be taken to fairs, farmers markets and other venues, Executive Director Parry Klassen said.
Not for city water customers
The program launched a year ago for residential well owners in the Turlock and Modesto groundwater subbasins. It is bounded by the Stanislaus River on the north, the San Joaquin River on the west, the Merced River on the south, and roughly the Tuolumne County line on the east.
The program is not for customers of city water systems, which can treat the pollutants or retire problem wells.
At first, it covered only nitrate, left over from past practices at farms, sewage treatment plants and other places. Assessments on these industries provide about $1 million a year.
The program expanded in March to 11 other pollutants via a $5.5 million grant from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Residents can apply online for free testing of their well water. If it exceeds health standards, they can choose between regular deliveries of water jugs or installation of an in-home treatment system.
The 11 new substances include the basic elements arsenic, copper, lead, chromium and uranium. The program also covers two measures of microbes in water: E. coli bacteria and total coliform. And it includes four pesticide-related substances: DBCP, ethylene dibromide, percholorate and 1,2,3-TCP.
Assemblyman takes part
The displays were judged by state Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, and collaborative board members Alan Reynolds and Paul Huckaba.
The winning entry was presented by Central Valley students Gabriel Davila-Sanchez and Ammar Salah. Their teammates are Alyssa Amador, Jesus Hernandez, Enrique Lepe and Allison Vang.
Second place and $1,000 went to the Johansen High School entry, presented by McKenna Taylor. The team also includes Aracely Martinez, Noemi Flores, Braulio Garcia, Veronica Maldonado, Adriana Villasenor and Briana Zamora.
Abraham and Aspen Wooley of Turlock High School won the $500 third prize. Entries also came from Gregori and Enochs high schools.
