This is the first in a series of stories looking at water quality issues in unincorporated Stanislaus County. If you’ve got concerns about your water source, please complete this short survey or reach out to [email protected] . This project is supported by the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism ’s California Health Equity Fellowship.
Knights Ferry has a major drinking water problem in its small water system, and it’s had it for a long time. The residents have largely learned to live with the near constant leaks, equipment failures and sporadic shutoffs.
The community was established in the 1850s on the northeastern edge of Stanislaus County. Home to the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi and a park run by the Army Corps of Engineers, it’s a destination by out-of-towners for recreational opportunities and preserved Gold Rush-era history…