Cambrian letters to the editor, Jan. 14, 2016

Cambria tap water not hazardous

The Cambrian regrettably has seen fit to publish a scaremongering letter by Lou Blanck (“Health Issues and Water Quality,” Dec. 31, 2015) claiming that Cambria’s drinking water is hazardous to health. The truth is that the water delivered to homes and businesses by the Cambria Community Services District meets all state and federal standards for safety.

Mr. Blanck asserts that Cambria tap water has a hazardous level of hexavalent chromium. In reality, the highest single sample reading, as reported in the CCSD’s most recent Consumer Confidence Report (for 2014), was 1.3 parts per billion (ppb), far below the state drinking water limit of 10 ppb. Also, the average of all samples taken for the report was below the level considered detectable.

Mr. Blanck also misrepresents the issue of lead in tap water. The Consumer Confidence Report notes that two out of 26 samples, taken at Cambria homes in 2013 and 2014, showed lead levels above the regulatory “action level” of 15 ppb. But this lead does not come from CCSD’s wells or delivery system. It comes from corrosion in household plumbing, especially in older plumbing systems that predate the use of lead-free solder. As a former CCSD board member, Mr. Blanck should know this.

CCSD customers who want the facts about the safety of their water can read the Consumer Confidence Report on the CCSD website: Just click “Water Quality” on the home page.

Thanks from Moon family for support

The Moon family wishes to thank the Cambria community and friends from all over who donated money and handicap-accessed our house, trimmed trees, walked our dogs, made food, gave gas cards, watered our yard or helped in any other way.

Thanks also to Gym One, Grow Nursery and the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society for their fundraisers. Thanks to all who came to the spaghetti feed and to all the volunteers and businesses who donated food. Thanks for sending cards showing love and support for Earl and Skyler and the rest of our family.

We knew our town was special and that we have a lot of wonderful friends, but this overwhelmed us. Our family appreciates everything you have done for us during this difficult time in our lives. We have a long road ahead, but with all your love out there, we will make it!

Skyler is getting tested regularly since her cancer surgery, and Earl hopes to return home in three to four months. He will have shoulder surgery in the next month because of a very unfortunate tear in his shoulder. But he has to have the surgery to assist in his recovery. It is a step back for him, but it will allow him more therapy in the Pomona rehab facility, which is good.

There are too many wonderful people to name, but we love and thank you all. Can’t wait to be home again to our Central Coast family.

Please respond to health care survey

Cambria and the North Coast are fortunate to have such an excellent ambulance service. If we have a need for swift transport with medical assistance to hospital, it is just a phone call away.

Cambria also has one full-time doctor, and two part-time doctors and physician’s assistants at the Community Health Care office. This means that the North Coast, including Cambria, with a population of approximately 7,000 people, is quite underserved when it comes to health care. I could make up scenarios wherein people need health care that does not require transport by ambulance, but need the attention of a doctor, and are required to go either to the Urgent Care Center in Morro Bay, or all the way to an ER, or to a private physician elsewhere. I can imagine that we have all experienced our own scenario, however.

A survey contained in CCSD water bills from the Cambria Community Healthcare District seeks to determine what else residents would like to have in the way of health services.

The San Simeon Community Services District is cooperating with the survey, and there are plans to get surveys to residents in rural areas, as well. Please fill out and return this survey as soon as possible.

It is not possible to do adequate planning for necessary health care services if the community’s needs and desires are unknown.

Regardless of the rumors you may hear, this survey and need for health care planning have nothing to do with the future of our ambulance service.

It has everything to do with responsible health care planning for our community.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Cambrian letters to the editor, Jan. 14, 2016."