I live in a 12 unit complex in Oregon with well water. In September the
manager gave us notice that the county was testing the well water (due
to tenant complaints) and until further notice we were not to drink the
water and were to purchase drinking water.
It is now the end of November and we are still under order not to drink
the water.
The County Health department tested the water and found it has high
nitrates but not so high they would notify tenants or order it not to
be drank, but the owner still insists we do not drink the water.
Several tenants are on HUD/HAP Federal Low Income Housing Assistance.
HUD has been notified but they seem unconcerned. They did admit that 3
times in the last year our system tested positive for e-coli (the
results are public record and accessible on-line) and several times for
high levels of nitrates. They won't however tell us if the Owner (in
California) or the manager should have notified us, but the law reads
that yes, they were required by law to notify all tenants immediately
and treat the system. They never notified any tenant and they did not
even shock treat the system properly by treating the well and running
all faucets, inside and out to distribute the chlorine. , to kill the
e-coli.
Biggest problem at this point (besides that it is very expensive to
purchase drinking water and a hassle to haul it in) is that th owner is
only reimbursing those tenants who pay their own rent and send in
receipts. His manager rented the new units with the understanding that
the tenant was responsible for their own water so they don't get
reimbursed at all!
Supplying drinking water is a LAW. HUD doesn't care and the local legal
aide office won't take the case (they all seem to think as long as we
have a roof over our heads everything is ok) . Who is suppose to be
standing up for the tenants?