Fresno City Council adopts new rules on plumbing and water quality reporting

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- There are new developments in the City of Fresno's tainted water investigation. New rules on plumbing and water quality reporting were approved by the Fresno City Council Thursday.

The new rules mean the city is looking for a way to deal with what appears to be a growing crisis for potentially hundreds of homeowners-- primarily in Northeast Fresno.

City Councilmember Lee Brand who is also running for mayor said he believes the city has an obligation to do something about the damage to plumbing caused by the cities corrosive water.

"I think there's an element of involvement with the city, and it's no coincidence when the surface water treatment plant went online in 2004. That was the start of people having problems with dos colored water," said Brand.

Brand formally proposed a loan and rebate program to help residents who need new fixtures and possibly new plumbing. But some residents question whether the $750,000 program would be anywhere near enough.

In a related action, the council approved the ban on the use of galvanized pipe in plumbing in Fresno and also passed an ordinance requiring the water department to report any water quality programs to the administration and City Council Members along with the state of California.