COMPLAINT FILED 9/19/79 AGAINST ALDER CREEK ( CO ) ALLEGED THAT THE CO, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GERALD RED BENNET, HAD VIOLATED THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT BY SUPPLYING WATER THAT EXCEEDED MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOR COLIFORM BACTERIA, AND BY FAILING TO ANALYZE THE DRINKING WATER, REPORT ANALYT- ICAL RESULTS TO EPA, AND NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THESE VIOLA- TIONS. ON 11/6/79, US DIST CT JUDGE GEORGE JUBA GRANTED THE US MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION REQUIRING THE ALDER CREEK WATER CO AND MR. BENNETT TO TAKE SPECIFIC ACTION TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT. MR. BENNETT FAILED TO CARRY OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INJUNCTION. IN MAY, 1980, MAGISTRATE JUBA FOUND MR. BENNETT IN CIVIL CONTEMPT OF THE INJUCTION. MR. BENNETT WAS SENTENCED TO 10 DAYS IN JAIL ON 9/25/80 FOR HIS CONTINUING CONTEMPT OF THE CT'S ORDERS, ALTHOUGH THAT SENTENCE WAS LATER SUSPENDED. ON 9/26/80, AN EQUITABLE RECEIVERSHIP WAS CREATED, AND MR. GENE GINTHER WAS APPOINTED RECEIVER. AS INTEREST DEVELOPED AMONG THE LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE QUALITY OF THEIR DRINKING WATER, A NUMBER OF STEPS WERE TAKEN AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL THAT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED THE LITIGATION. IN 1981 THE ALDER CREEK WATER USERS' ASSOCIA- TION WAS FORMED, AND THEREAFTER INTERVENED IN THE PRESENT CASE. THE ASSOCIATION WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING SUPPORT FOR JUNE, 1982 LOCAL ELECTIONS THAT CREATED FIVE WATER DISTRICTS ENCOMPASSING THE FIVE