By Jessica Harrington

July 26, 2016

Original Story: http://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/california-state-water-board-holds-meeting-in-bakersfield-about-high-levels-of-123-tcp-in-the-wate

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The State Water Board held a public workshop in Bakersfield Tuesday on the pesticide byproduct 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP). 

The workshop was the second of of three meetings the State Water Board is holding in regards to 1,2,3 TCP.

"My concern is that the water has different kinds of things that, that we -- a lot of people don't know about," said James Guzman who attended the meeting Tuesday.

On July 21, 2016 the State Water Board held the first of three meetings. In the first meeting, the State Water Board staff shared a preliminary proposal to set the TCP drinking water standard at 5 parts per trillion, which experts say is the most health-protective standard. 

"You don't get sick right away or anything like that, but over a long period of time, there could be a chance," said Andrew DiLuccia, a spokesperson for the State Water Board. However, he said that's why the water board wants to implement regulations -- to prevent it from happening altogether. 

Currently, Kern County's water is about 200 times that amount, something experts say is extremely dangerous and can cause cancer. 

The carcinogen is not regulated in water, companies are simply required to tell their customers that the water is higher than 5 parts per trillion.

State Water Officials said resident increase the likelihood of developing cancer if they drink two liters of the water per day for 70 or more years. 

"You know if we can eliminate any possible exposure, why not do it?" said Jerry Tinoco, a coordinator for the south Kern community for the Community Water Center.

The proposed regulation would give the State Water Board the option to take action if a water company exceeds more than 5 parts per trillion of 1,2,3 TCP in the water. 

"Setting the standard at this level would help protect the lives of hundreds of thousands of Californians who currently drink water contaminated with TCP," Asha Kreiling posted on the CWC website.

Kreiling said CWC expects the standard will be presented later this year and hopes it will be formally adopted by next spring, around April.

For more information about 1,2,3 TCP visit the State Water Board website here.

###