{"id":24273,"date":"2017-09-29T15:58:57","date_gmt":"2017-09-29T15:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/29\/dead-rats-and-frogs-discovered-in-camp-pendleton-water-supply\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:40:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:40:20","slug":"dead-rats-and-frogs-discovered-in-camp-pendleton-water-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2017\/09\/29\/dead-rats-and-frogs-discovered-in-camp-pendleton-water-supply\/","title":{"rendered":"Dead rats and frogs discovered in Camp Pendleton water supply"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rat and frog carcasses were discovered by water safety inspectors visiting Camp Pendleton, the San Diego Union-Tribune<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rats rotting on a reservoir gate, a dead frog clinging to a ladder and a rodent carcass floating in treated water were found by inspectors during a June visit to the Marine Corps base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the nauseating discovery, Camp Pendleton officials say the water \u2014 consumed by some 55,000 Marines and their families \u2014 is safe, and that there is no need to boil water or take other precautions, according to a memo circulated by the base\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSimply put, the water is and has been safe to drink,\u201d base spokesman Carl Redding told the San Diego Union-Tribune. \u201cCamp Pendleton is committed to providing safe and compliant drinking water. This is a duty and responsibility that we take very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State and federal investigators, however, found \u201csignificant deficiencies\u201d in the systems comprising the base\u2019s water treatment program. According to the Environmental Protection Agency report<\/a>, Camp Pendleton \u201clacked adequate supervision and qualified operators for treatment and distribution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the base failed the June inspections, the \u201cUSMC removed the animal remains and cleaned, refilled, and tested the reservoirs for total coliform and chlorine.\u201d Additional testing to ensure the water is safe to drink will be conducted, according to the EPA release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sept. 28, the Marine Corps and the EPA entered into a consent decree, forcing the base to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the decree, the Marine Corps has 180 days to shut down, inspect, clean and sample all Camp Pendleton reservoirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPublic water systems must meet all state and federal requirements to provide safe drinking water to their customers,\u201d said Alexis Strauss, EPA\u2019s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. \u201cOur priority is to ensure the base achieves compliance promptly, to serve those who live and work at Camp Pendleton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With rats and frogs in Camp Pendleton water supply, base agrees to federal decree https:\/\/t.co\/n0sXdFmIqF<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6jc87euXEB<\/a><\/p>— The San Diego Union-Tribune (@sdut) September 29, 2017<\/a><\/blockquote>