The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a consent decree with the operators of Oasis Mobile Home Park in Coachella Valley to address violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This agreement mandates significant upgrades to the park's drinking water and wastewater systems and includes a $50,000 penalty.
"EPA is wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that everyone has safe water to drink," said Joel Jones, Acting Director of EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. "We will continue to fully utilize the authorities of the Safe Drinking Water Act to hold water operators accountable for meeting drinking water standards."
Under this decree, Oasis Mobile Home Park must implement extensive improvements over two years. These include installing alarms on the drinking water treatment system, adding 80,000 gallons of storage capacity, installing a booster pump, and ensuring qualified operators are present daily until an alarm system is installed. Additionally, comprehensive standard operating procedures must be developed, quarterly compliance meetings with EPA are mandatory, and immediate notification is required if any issues threaten public health or the environment.
The decree also involves working with an EPA contractor on a wastewater system assessment due by March 2026. Any identified issues must be addressed after completing drinking water improvements.
Located within California's Eastern Coachella Valley on Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tribal Reservation land, Oasis Mobile Home Park serves around 1,000 residents primarily employed in agriculture. The park operates independently from Tribal control and uses groundwater with high arsenic levels—posing significant health risks if consumed over long periods.
Since 2019, several Emergency Administrative Orders have been issued by EPA due to high arsenic levels exceeding safe limits and inadequate operation of treatment systems. While some progress has been made under these orders, concerns remain about long-term compliance.
The consent decree was lodged by the Justice Department in the U.S. District Court for Central District of California and is open for public comment from January 23 through February 24 before final court approval.