Friday, Apr 6 2012 3:29PM
California Watch reports that rural areas outside of affluent Rancho Santa Fe and San Diego counties are lacking adequate sewage systems and clean drinking water after years of neglect.
California Watch reports that rural areas outside of affluent Rancho Santa Fe and San Diego counties are lacking adequate sewage systems and clean drinking water after years of neglect.
The news source reports that residents living in the low-income communities are suffering from illness, diseases and additional public health and safety risks due to the lack of well-maintained infrastructures. According to California Watch, a lack of money and jurisdiction issues continue to prevent significant improvements.
The source notes that Stanislaus County has spent nearly $23.7 million on improvements since 1996, but the number of complaints regarding septic tanks and water remain high.
"We have Third World conditions, not only in this area, but in other areas of rural California," V. Manual Perez, California Assemblyman, told the source. "Some of it has to do with political will – perhaps in the past, they never had politicians willing to ensure that infrastructure goes to areas that really need it."
For further information, check out these sources:
The Sacramento Bee