County Supports Emergency Response to Oasis Mobile Home Park Water Crisis

RIVERSIDE – The Riverside County Board of Supervisors today approved support of the ongoing emergency response to the water crisis at Oasis Mobile Home Park. Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who represents the eastern Coachella Valley at the county level, brought the measure forward to seek further help and expedite solutions for the residents of the mobile home park.

Residents of Oasis Mobile Home Park have long faced health and safety issues, including unsafe levels of arsenic contamination in the water over the past three years. Last week, they presented Supervisor Perez a copy of a notice from operators of the park, dated July 1, stating that the water from the park’s water system should not be used for any purpose, including drinking, bathing, cooking and brushing one’s teeth.

The park operators have been providing one gallon of water per person per day, which Supervisor Perez says is not adequate for all needs, particularly in the summer.

Due to the lack of sufficient clean water for families at Oasis Mobile Home Park to drink, bathe in and cook with, Supervisor Perez has reached out to community partners and county departments to provide supplemental water and shower facilities to bring relief to residents.

Since Thursday, July 28, FIND Food Bank, with the help of TODEC Legal Center volunteers, has distributed bottled water to residents. FIND Food Bank will continue these efforts through Wednesday. The county will continue water distribution through the week.

On Sunday, the Coachella Valley Unified School District opened shower facilities at the Desert Mirage High School gym and locker room area for the Oasis Mobile Home Park community to access. The showers will be available from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily through August 5. Residents should bring their own hygiene products and towels.

The support of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors reinforces Riverside County’s commitment to action and supporting an ongoing emergency response and resources.

“Families at Oasis Mobile Home Park have lived in substandard conditions for the past 20 years,” said Supervisor Perez. “While there are long term plans for relocation into safer and better housing opportunities, people want results now, they want action now, and they can’t wait. The lack of safe water is an emergency that we must find interim and permanent solutions to address with all available tools and resources.”

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Supervisor V. Manuel Perez represents the eastern two-thirds of Riverside County on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Stretching from Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, south to the Salton Sea and east to Blythe and the Colorado River, the 4^th District is the largest geographical district in the county.

Supervisor Perez’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.