Most of take potable water for granted and so did residents of Cristo Rey Village until six weeks ago when their running water was shut-off due to a malfunctioning pump. Six weeks later the pump has finally been fixed but villagers still do not have a regular supply of running water because something else is broke: the Water Board's bank account. 7NEWS headed to the wide rolling hills of Cristo Rey today to investigate.
Crisanta Canto, Cristo Rey Villager
"We noh have water. Long time ago we used to get water from the river, just because they put the water here from the pump then we used to get that water, potable water, but right now when it cut we have to go to the river again."
There is no water and so residents here in Cristo Rey Village have been forced to come down to the Macal River to bathe, wash their clothes, and drink; basically this is where they come to run their households and its not been easy.
Maria Guerra, Cristo Rey Villager
"We have to go to the river and get some water. Every morning we have to go to the river and back some buckets of water to use because we buy Crystal Water to drink. Its very hard because sometimes I am not here, only my old mother and my dad, so we have to pay somebody to back water for us and they charge us $20 for each trip of water that they bring. Its making life harder."
Elma Juarez, Cristo Rey Villager
"See the water from the pipe is cured and the water from the river is dirty. Every animal bathes there, dogs, horses, everything goes there and we have to use that same water to shower for our use here at home."
The man bearing the brunt of their resentment is Daniel Sosa, the Water Board Chairman who is also Vice-Chairman of the Village Council. This afternoon he took me to the site of the pump to show me the problems. He explained that it had been malfunctioning for months and it got so bad that 6 weeks ago villagers supported turning it off. The pump remained off until over the weekend when it was turned back on but only with limited use. So the pump is fixed but water is being rationed out to villagers. And that brings us to the other problem with Cristo Rey's water supply: the Water Board is broke because someone was stealing from their cookie jar - 6,000 cookies to be exact.
Daniel Sosa, Water Board Chairman
"We had the money to buy the stuff that we needed for the pump, it was sufficient but it was the last bit of money we had."
Keith Swift
Where is the rest of the money?
Daniel Sosa,
"The rest of the money is missing due to misappropriate use from the treasurer."
Keith Swift,
So that is delaying the village getting back water?
Daniel Sosa,
"Well normally that wasn't one of the problems because we had money but right now we could call that one because we owe BEL over a $1,000 worth of electricity and we just can't pay that."
Keith Swift,
Can villagers come up with that money?
Daniel Sosa,
"We're going to ask the cooperation of the villagers to see who is willing to pay towards this, that is why I am having a meeting on Sunday."
And if Cristo Rey doesn't pay, their water supply will be gone for good again. It's a scenario that Maria Guerra is all too prepared for. She's been filling buckets from the river that runs behind her home. But that has been at great cost and significant inconvenience. Now she says the Water Board has got to go.
Maria Guerra,
"I think the problem is that they have to change all the people from the Water Board because if they are not doing nothing for the people, why would we have some people there not helping the villagers."
And there is evidence to indicate that Daniel Sosa has not been doing the best job managing the water system.
Jules Vasquez,
Was there not a breakdown in the regular maintenance of the well and should you as Water Chairman not have been overlooking that to make sure the well is maintained to time?
Daniel Sosa,
"I was actually thinking and I asked when we were supposed to have regular maintenance on the machine and they said every 5 years. But the problem reached before I actually moved."
Jules Vasquez,
But it took you 5 years to think.
Daniel Sosa,
"Yes but because this is the first time we are working on this, nobody knows."
Keith Swift,
When did you become board chairman?
Daniel Sosa,
"I became board chairman since this started, 7 years ago, 1998."
Keith Swift,
And you've done no maintenance since then?
Daniel Sosa,
"No maintenance. You see what happen here is I'm working, and that's what people should understand, I'm working and I'm not getting paid for this."
Keith Swift,
But after 7 years and no maintenance you don't feel that you neglected the water pump and maybe if you had done maintenance it wouldn't have come to this?
Daniel Sosa,
"I can't take full responsibility because like how I said I have more things to do. I work for my own family, I got my family to mind and I just can't fully put my time into this because I'm not getting paid for this. So I can't blame nobody for this thing here because it's something that we didn't expect. Some people say that the Chairman is not doing his job, but if somebody thinks he could do it better than me then just ask for the job."
And while it would take a Minister to change the politically appointed Water Board Chairman, that is neither here nor there for these villagers. They way they see it they have taken one step forward and two backwards and what's old is new and what's new is old in Cristo Rey.
Crisanta Canto,
"We use to bring the water by bucket, full buckets, and so we have water in the house everyday."
Keith Swift,
So its like you going backwards because you used to use buckets and then you went to potable water and now you're back to...?
Crisanta Canto,
"Yes to the buckets again."
BEL today confirmed that the Water Board owes $1,069 which was due on May 30th. They have been given up until June 15th to make the payment. The treasurer who allegedly misappropriated funds from the Water Board still lives in Cristo Rey. The Water Board Chairman says they will sue him for the missing money, as opposed to simply filing a complaint with the Police Department.
