‘I’m scared of getting sick from the water’

Some rural California communities have waited nearly a decade for state regulators to repair their tainted drinking-water systems.

  • Cheryl and Edward Blackhawk outside their home in El Adobe, California.

    Martin do Nascimento for the California Health Report
  • Cheryl Blackhawk with one of her horses on their property in El Adobe.

    Martin do Nascimento for the California Health Report
  • The faucet at Cheryl Blackhawk’s home that she uses to give her horses drinking water.

    Martin do Nascimento for the California Health Report