Residents misled about water safety

By Neal Putnam
The Alpine Sun

     SAN DIEGO — Nazar Najor, the operator of the Live Oak Springs water system, pleaded guilty June 26 to possession of an altered record he gave to county officials that stated the water system was safe to drink when it was contaminated.
     Najor, 62, who lives in Boulevard, will be sentenced Dec. 7 by San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert O’Neill.
Deputy District Attorney Karen Doty said the long delay in sentencing will give Najor time to fix any problems with his Back Country water system before he next appears before the judge.
     The water is now safe to drink for his 138 customers. But in October 2005, lab tests from the county Department of Environmental Health showed the water system was contaminated with coliform bacteria, said Doty.
     Najor submitted documents stating the water was safe to drink when it wasn’t, she added.
     The county agency ordered Najor to advise customers to boil their water before use. His water system was temporarily closed.
     Najor pleaded guilty to an amended felony charge that stated he “knowingly possessed an altered record required to be maintained by law.”
     The original charge against him, filing a false document to be recorded in a public office in the state, was dismissed. The maximum sentence is three years in state prison and a $25,000 fine, but he is likely to receive probation and may not serve any time in jail.
     The prosecutor said Najor must complete two actions before sentencing.
     Najor must dig or construct a new well and must either seal his contaminated well and/or converts it to an irrigation system, said the prosecutor.
     The judge will consider reducing the offense to a misdemeanor if both things are done. The contaminated well is no longer in use with his water system.
     Three members of the county’s Department of Environmental Health were present for the guilty plea. They would have testified in Najor’s preliminary hearing that day, but he decided to plead guilty instead.
     Najor remains free on his own recognizance. He declined to comment afterwards.

 E-mail the Editor