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Tacna to receive new water system after 30 years of unhealthy water

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved a 12 million dollar water system for the city of Tacna after 30 years of poor water quality.

Something as simple as drinking water from the tap, is just one thing Tacna residents are not currently able to do.

County Supervisor Darren Simmons says the current groundwater well supply in Tacna does not meet drinking water standards, containing a high concentration of arsenic.

“The best thing to do is to have your own bottled water and stuff, you can do dishes and cook with it I’m sure, but it just never really was quality water and with this new system it’s gonna be a game changer for them,” said Simmons.

The new project will replace the current water system installed in the 1980’s now using water supplied by the Welton-Mohawk irrigation and drainage district.

Simmons has lived in the Tacna area for over 30 years and says the water was the same way when he moved there in the 90’s.

“It shouldn’t have gone on this long but unfortunately it has, but now we got the first steps going where we’re going to be able to change the quality of water and the quality of life," said Simmons.

One Tacna business owner says this is great news for the city.

“It means that we will have good drinking water, it means that we won’t have to buy as much water like we are now for our business, it means our pipes won’t be deteriorating as quickly as they do now, we can grow plants, I mean its a really big deal for Tacna,” said Anne Taylor.

Tacna residents are responsible for only seven percent of the total cost spread over 25 years, with the rest being covered by grants, loans and other forms of outside funding.

The project is set to be completed in June 2024 and will help from 600 to 1,000 residents.

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Samantha Byrd

Samantha Byrd joined the KYMA team in February 2022 and is the morning anchor/producer for News 11 and Fox 9.

You can reach out to her with story ideas at sammy.byrd@kecytv.com

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