Inmates report skin and health problems linked to Torrance County Detention Center water
CoreCivic has issued a statement saying that the Local Water Authority conducts monthly tests and there are no issues with the drinking water.
Digital Assignment Editor
Inmates at the Torrance County Detention Center have reported having issues with the water at the jail.
According to a local immigrant’s rights law firm in Estancia, the water there is not safe to bathe in or for consumption. The firm represents some of the detainees who say that the water that is supposed to be used by inmates is causing health issues.
“Obviously this is water that they’re showering with; they’re getting rashes, and one man showed me sores on his arm from the water that they’re using presumably,” says Attorney Tiffany Wang. “We’ve understood that the water at the detention facility that is coming out of the pipes themselves is not good — it’s not water that is potable.”
Employees at the center often provide gallon jugs for drinking, but once that runs out, inmates are told to drink from the tap.
CoreCivic issued a statement to KOAT saying:
“The local water authority conducts monthly independent tests on TCDF’s water supply to verify its safety and cleanliness for drinking. We encourage you to contact them for the most recent reports, which confirm no issues with the drinking water at the facility.”
