ADEQ Orders Wilhoit Water Company-Yavapai Estates To Correct Violations

ADEQ Director Steve Owens announced that they issued a Compliance Order to Wilhoit Water Company-Yavapai Estates in Chino Valley requiring the company to provide an alternative source of drinking water directly to customers because the water that Wilhoit is currently supplying contains unsafe levels of arsenic.

On Dec. 5th, ADEQ issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Wilhoit for serving drinking water to customers with arsenic concentrations more than 30 times the federal standard. On Dec. 13th, ADEQ posted a public notice that advised customers to avoid drinking or cooking with water from the Wilhoit-Yavapai Estates system, & to find an alternative source of drinking water.

ADEQ issued the Compliance Order yesterday because Wilhoit Water Company has failed to provide its customers with safe drinking water, including bottled water, & failed to inform customers about the arsenic levels.

The company has 3 days to begin supplying bottled water directly to customers, 5 days to issue a public notice through the U.S. Mail toits customers, 30 days to submit a proposal to bring the system into compliance with the federal arsenic standard, & until June 1st, 2007 to achieve compliance with the standard.

Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Wilhoit Water Company at (928) 639-1308 or may contact ADEQ at (602) 771-4644.