It's been 25 years since 17 News first reported on the groundwater contamination problem in the mountain town of Glennville.
Now, there is finally good news for Glennville.
A brand new well is producing clean, fresh drinking water and residents there couldn't be happier.
When the gasoline first was detected in Glennville's groundwater, Ronald Reagan was President and Madonna was a rising star.
The gasoline additive MTBE was later discovered in the same groundwater.
But now after a quarter century of drinking and bathing in trucked-in water, better days are ahead.
"We are all just thrilled. We're ecstatic," said Glennville resident Freda Kubas.
It doesn't look like much, but for folks like Freda Kubas, the new well is a sight for sore eyes.
This new well is producing is capable of producing more than 100 gallons of water per minute, more than enough to meet the needs of this quiet mountain community.
"To me, it's like putting a period at the end of a very, very long sentence," said Kubas.
Residents here nearly two-and-a-quarter million dollars in state grants to pay for the well and start up their own mutual water company.
Dee Jaspar of Bakersfield engineered the project.
"It is uphill or upstream from the general flow of the contaminants, so we know it will be a safe spot," said Dee Jaspar with Dee Jaspar and Associates.
"I'm very satisfied with this well. It's good clean water. We've tested it. We're ecstatic over the quality of the water and the production capacity of the well," added Jaspar.
In a couple of days, a permanent well pump will be installed, and later, a full water distribution system.
After 25 years, Glennville's water woes are finally coming to an end.
"We'll have our own water. We'll be independent of trucked-in water. We won't have to wait for the water truck just to take a bath. Property values will be reinstated for the community. We're putting in fire hydrants to protect our homes," said Kubas.
There are still several hurdles to overcome.
Kubas and members of the water board must raise enough money to pay operational costs of the water company, until rate payers are brought on board.
Glennville is holding a barbecue and dance to raise funds for its mutual water company on Saturday, March 27 at the Glennville Rodeo Grounds.
If you would like to attend you can call Freda Kubas at 536-8093 for more information.
