ARVIN, CA-- The water is safe to drink. That's what state and local officials have been telling residents of Arvin since Monday. But some say it doesn't pass the smell test or the taste test for that matter.
Last Thursday an old tree fell during a wind storm and uprooted a city water main. City officials shut down the water to make repairs.
Tuesday afternoon Arvin's Mayor Jose Flores was in front of cameras to assure them their water is safe to drink, but our camera wasn't allowed to film the water coming from the tap. While that photo op may not be enough to convince skeptics in Arvin, a few hours later, Mayor Flores sent us a cell phone video of him drinking water from a residential tap.
Meantime, residents like Rosa Castellon are also wondering why supervisor Leticia Perez was not in Arvin this weekend.
"Where is she during this whole thing?” Castellon said. “When she needed the votes she was here. Where is she now? I want her to come I want her to see. I want her to drink the water too."
Perez told 17 news she will be in Arvin Wednesday morning.
"I think that is a fair request,” Perez said. “I fully trust the state health department as well as our local health officials to when they say the water is safe for drinking. It's absolutely safe for drinking and I'll be there first thing in the morning."
Supervisor Perez plans to be at Arvin City Hall at 9 a.m on Wednesday and then go to a few houses in the area to drink their tap water.