Friday, Aug 31 2012 4:23PM

A recently approved bill will let mobile home park residents in rural California seek reimbursement in response to complaints regarding contaminated well water and excessive rates.

Most residents of the Sunbird Mobile Home Park, which comprises a mix of low-income residents and farm workers, have received water bills that were often more expensive than their rent, according to California Watch.

In July, the Riverside County Environmental Health Department ordered that the well that supplied water to the community be destroyed. Residents were then hooked up to a water district in Coachella. However, residents were not eligible for reimbursement for the unjust rates, the source reports.

"The law on privately owned wells in mobile home parks was unclear on whether the complainants were eligible for retroactive restitution under the finding that the rates were unjust and unreasonable," Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez told California Watch. "Ultimately, the Sunbird residents, though vindicated, could not be reimbursed. It was through this situation that an inconsistency in the law became known."

In total, more than 30 residents have filed complaints against the mobile home park and many have had to relocate to gain access to affordable, clean water.

For further information, check out this source: California Watch