ARVIN, CA - Water worries in Arvin are far from over.
City officials are reassuring residents their water is safe to drink following potential contamination last Friday.
But, many people disagree.
State tests showed this week that the water was safe from bacteria, but Arvin officials admit the water is filled with heavy amounts of arsenic and nitrates, and it's been like that for years.
It's been one week since a tree fell and broke a water main in Arvin, leaving the city concerned its drinking water was unsafe.
But days later, city officials told residents they had nothing to worry about.
However, Arvin residents disagree.
They say their tap water is unsafe, contaminated with high levels of arsenic.
"This is the biggest concern because water, without water you can't live, you have to have water," said Sal Partida, Committee for a Better Arvin.
Partida says arsenic in the drinking water has been happening for years, but nothing has changed.
"We need water. We need clean purified water that we can drink, that we can cook with, we can bathe with without thinking, man I might get full of rashes."
In the city of Arvin, there are seven water wells that distribute water to all residents, and according to city officials, all of those wells exceed the federal limit for arsenic.
The city says to keep residents informed, they send out a letter every quarter with the latest arsenic levels.
The letter goes on to inform everyone that bottled water isn't necessary, but Sal Partida disagrees and calls the letter misleading.
"Seeing all the problems and looking at all the people concerned about it, we'd rather buy the bottled water," continued Partida.
Partida says a treatment facility plant would be the best option for Arvin, but he says with the lack of funds it would be hard and likely impossible.
Arvin is waiting for nearly a million dollars from the government to build a new well in the area to help reduce high levels of arsenic.