MABTON, Wash. – The quality of drinking water isn’t a new issue for the city of Mabton. According to a report in 2014, one of the wells in Mabton showed levels of hydrogen sulfide in the water.
Residents in Mabton are still upset about the problem. According to the Washington Department of Health the water is safe to drink but some people are still looking for answers.
Ruben Olivarez has lived in Mabton his entire life.
Olivarez said he just wants to know what’s going on.
“We ask the questions, but the answers aren’t being answered,” he said. “That is the frustrating part.”
Olivarez told NonStop Local this issue is preventing him and his family from doing everyday tasks.
“My wife uses bottled water for cooking,” Olivarez said. “We use bottled water to drink and it’s only me and her. When we shower, I let the water run out of the faucet for a couple of minutes before I jump in.”
NonStop Local reached out to Mabton City Hall by phone to try to get some answers and were told they weren’t interested in commenting.
Maria Fernandez, the Executive Director for Empowering Latina Leadership and Action or ELLA for short said the organization didn’t anticipate getting involved but wanted to help.
“We could provide some water assistance,” Fernandez said. “We’ve been doing that at least once or twice a month since September.”
According to Fernandez, ELLA was able to do this because of a grant.
Amber Powell, the Manager of the Mabton Food Bank said she’s thankful for the water donation.
Powell and other residents said this summer, the water was horrible.
“It was brown in color,” said Powell. “Even if it was a fresh toilet flush or you’d turn the tap on, it was colored. It stank like rotten eggs.”
According to the Department of Health, the taste and odor issues are thought to be from hydrogen sulfide coming out of one or more wells. They said flushing and other measures have been taken to address the problem.
The DOH goes on to say further testing was done to rule out possible contamination.
Both Olivarez and Powell said the water is better at the moment, but are concerned when summer comes around.
A couple of council members said new council members will be sworn in on Tuesday January 9.
