CRESWELL, Ore. - Creswell residents are concerned after finding out potentially dangerous levels of arsenic are flowing out of their taps.

According to federal standards, city drinking water supplies can not contain more than ten parts per one-billionth of arsenic. But the last testing of backup wells in Creswell's water system showed double that with 22 parts per billion.

The city mailed a letter to all residents informing them of the arsenic test results.

Mike Howard, a water treatement operator for the city, said by e-mail May 1 that "the wells that have the higher than the new EPA standards are backup wells, they only operate four months of the year, November to February, during the high rain fall periods. They only produce 19 percent of the drinking water."

"The City of Creswell has been working on building a new water plant for the last three years," Howard wrote. "We have had public meetings, and hired CH2M Hill as the engineer. The final plans have been accepted by the State of Oregon and Lane County. The project has gone out to bid, and the contract has been awarded. Construction will start as soon as possible. The trees that were in the building areas have been removed and EPUD has delivered the new poles in order to relocate the power lines."

The letter the city sent to citizens warns that excess arsenic could cause skin damage, create problems with the circulatory system and increase your risk of getting cancer.

"We know that arsenic is not good for us, and I think it is the city's responsibility to take care of this," said Creswell resident Mary Keet.

"We moved to Creswell when I was about ten and we knew instantly that you can't drink this stuff," said Creswell resident Charles Eggleston.

These Creswell residents get their water from city wells located at the Emerald Valley Field. Tests revealed higher than standard levels of arsenic are pouring out of faucets and into their drinking glasses.

"You really wouldn't want to drink it. Just kind of smells kind of like sulfur or something. This is what we use. We don't drink water out of that because it's too disgusting," said Eggleston.

But city leaders said residents can still safely drink the water, and in fact the high levels of arsenic have always been there, with measurements from 20 to 24 parts per billion. The previous federal standard was 50 parts per billion. The threshold was lowerd to 10 parts per billion.

But officials said because of the change in federal standards, water that was once considered safe by the government is no more.

Creswell must pass inspections by december of 2009. Officials said they have a new water treatment plant is in the works.