The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribe is currently supplying bottled water to 35 homes on its reservation in Southern California.
Tribal members are being encouraged to drink the bottled water instead of the well water that they would normally drink. The tribe is concerned about the impact of the chemical perchlorate, found in the well, will have on its members.
The chemical is a by-product from the production of rocket fuel and is found in many places throughout southern California. Currently no water regulations -- state, federal or tribal -- exist for the chemical. It is unclear of the health risks of the chemical in humans although animal models have shown that it can affect the thyroid gland.
Get the Story:
The Desert Sun Drinking Water Woes (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 2/11)
Calif. tribe gives members bottled water
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'