Lindsay wins $9.5M settlement after toxic chemicals found in water

LINDSAY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A tiny South Valley assemblage has won a large colony aft contaminants were recovered successful its water.

A 4-million-gallon-tank connected Todd's Hill provides h2o for the metropolis of Lindsay.

Just a fewer miles down the road, a h2o good has been unusable for the past thirteen years aft it was discovered that fertilizer was leaking into the well.

"As a effect of the alteration successful regulations backmost successful 2007 it was noticed that the levels of prochlorate exceeded the caller maximum contaminant level," said Lindsay City Manager Daymond Qualls.

The uncovering led to a agelong conflict against the institution that made the fertilizer, which was SQM North America.

In 2010 the metropolis filed a suit against SQM aft regular investigating recovered the toxic chemic successful 1 of the city's 3 h2o wells.

Now, 14 years aboriginal since the archetypal lawsuit, the City of Lindsay has announced $ 9.5 cardinal dollar colony with SQM.

"I deliberation it's a immense triumph for the metropolis of Lindsay and our constituents conscionable due to the fact that we are capable to make caller facilities with that wealth that spell backmost to the h2o money and we tin code those ongoing issues," said Lindsay Mayor Ramiro Serna, who has lived successful the metropolis for 50 years.

Lindsay metropolis Leaders accidental though they haven't gone without water, they person faced respective challenges.

Especially during drought years arsenic the metropolis relies connected aboveground h2o and the Friant-Kern Canal

Plus, each 3 years the canal closes during the wintertime for regular maintenance.

"In times of highest request the metropolis truly struggles to support up," said Qualls.

For 1 section edifice owner, not having convenient entree to drinking h2o has outgo her thousands of dollars implicit time.

"It impacts america economically. Because present we person to bargain water. My depletion of h2o is simply a lot," said Martha Franco, the proprietor of Primos Tacos.

She goes done 4 h2o jugs a time to navigator her menudo, posole and different soups.

She says a h2o filter would outgo her implicit $5,000.

"But the system and concern is pugnacious close now," Franco said.

The metropolis says aft lawyer fees, they are near with $6.5 cardinal dollars.

The wealth volition assistance amended h2o infrastructure.

"About $5 cardinal volition beryllium utilized to plan and conception the ion speech system," explained Qualls.

"The remainder volition beryllium utilized for aboriginal attraction and operations of the plant."

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