People in San Lucas staying hydrated amid the high temperatures and contaminated drinking water

SAN LUCAS, Calif. (KION-TV): While some parts of the Central Coast may have cooled off, other parts of South Monterey County are seeing triple digit temperatures.

People in San Lucas are dealing with the heat while also not having clean drinking water for more than 10 years, according to Monterey County.

Maria Velasquez has lived in San Lucas for 35 years. She said she's looking for ways to stay hydrated when temperatures reach the upper 90s, and it is difficult, especially since she doesn't have clean drinking water.

"It's very tough, we have no other option than to go to the river and get wet," said Velasquez.

Velasquez said the only clean water she gets, as well as the rest of the people who live in San Lucas, is twice per week. On Tuesday, they get two jugs of water and on Thursday they get three.

Velasquez said the jugs of water she gets is still not enough, especially during the heat. She said sometimes she has to buy more water.

Monterey County Supervisor Christopher Lopez said the fight for clean drinking water in the community of San Lucas is not over. Months ago, federal and local leaders secured one million dollars to build a pipeline between San Lucas to King City.

Supervisor Lopez said they're waiting for the state to come out with a study to highlight why the water in San Lucas is contaminated and the potential costs to build the pipeline.

"We're waiting for the state to come out with that study, but in the meantime, that doesn't mean we stop," said Monterey County Supervisor Lopez. "We're trying everything we can [like] proposing new legislation that will allow the state to invest over their financial per connection in that community to solve the issue."

And for Velasquez, she knows the process to get clean drinking water has been long, but she said she doesn't lose faith. She also said she'll do anything to get clean drinking water because the contaminated water has really affected her skin.

"I'm always applying lotion on my skin because it gets very dry and itchy, and I'm constantly touching my skin," said Velasquez.