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Commission seeks third-party testing after visual-only DPH inspections; questions bottled-water distribution
Summary
After inspecting jail water concerns, the commission learned DPH conducts visual annual checks only and asked sheriff staff to hire a third-party vendor for pH and chemical testing; commissioners also requested documentation of when and where bottled water is distributed for unsafe water.
Los Angeles County commissioners tasked with inspecting jail conditions pressed sheriff and public-health officials on March 5 for clearer testing and response protocols after repeated complaints about water quality at county facilities.
The commission reviewed a February 3 board motion ordering focused reporting on water quality and other environmental hazards at county jails. Chair and commissioners said their inspections revealed issues at CRDF and other sites and asked that the sheriff coordinate testing, city point-of-connection review, and an actionable remediation plan to present to the Board.
Commander Montoya told the commission that the sheriff's department is seeking a third-party vendor to conduct regular water testing for pH and chemicals and verify filtration systems. "We're looking to hire or procure a third party who will conduct regular testing of the water to ensure that it is potable and within acceptable standards," she said, adding that bottled water is on hand and would be provided when water is deemed unsafe.
Commissioners were surprised to learn that the Department of Public Health's routine inspections are mainly visual—checking clarity and temperature on an annual basis—and do not routinely include pH or chemical analyses. Members asked for coordination with city water authorities (the city of Lynwood was named as point of connection for certain facilities) because some smells could be caused by supply issues outside jail infrastructure.
Commissioners requested details on the procurement timeline for the third-party testing vendor and asked the sheriff to document when bottled water is distributed: who requested it, watch-commander authorization, and whether watch-commander logs or kitchen delivery records would provide searchable evidence of bottle issuance.
Next steps: the commission added water testing procurement and bottled-water distribution logs to the LD-item follow-up tracker and asked sheriff staff to return to the next meeting with procurement status and any coordination plans with city water agencies.
