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Knight calls for water cleanup

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Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25) this week sent a letter to Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostwick of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting assistance with a long-standing effort to clean the Eastern Santa Clarita River Basin.

The letter, written at the behest of the Castaic Water Agency, asserts that numerous drinking water wells in Santa Clarita have been shut down because they are reportedly contaminated with potentially harmful chemicals known as “perchlorates” that were improperly disposed of after the Cold War. The letter outlines the economic and environmental costs of the reported contamination to the area, and notes that the condition exacerbates the current drought crisis in the state. While there have been efforts to remedy the situation, Knight explained, more needs to be done.

“Californians, particularly the members of the communities I represent, are suffering from this drought. Any effort to increase our drinking water supply should be pursued,” Knight said.

The next phase of the cleanup process involves the Saugus Groundwater Wells Project, which would conceivably help to replace about 5.4 million gallons per day of potable groundwater of lost capacity. Knight additionally asked the Army Corps of Engineers to make this project a priority.

“This project would provide a huge amount of relief to Santa Clarita and the surrounding areas,” Knight said.

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