OAKES (AP) - This city is looking for federal help to clean up the arsenic in its water.

State officials and water experts told city officials and about 60 other Oakes residents Monday night that the city must lower the levels of arsenic to meet federal standards by 2006. Residents worry they will not be able to pay the estimated $4 million cost of the changes.

"What is a woman living on a fixed income of $600 a month supposed to do?" asked Harry Cline, 64, who owns a restaurant.

The state Health Department's environmental chief, Dave Glatt, said the state has asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency for help.

The federal standards require public water systems to have arsenic levels no more than 10 parts per billion by 2006. All three wells in Oakes have levels higher than that, with an average of about 24 parts per billion, said Larry Thelen, who manages the drinking water program for the state Health Department.

This city of about 2,000 can build a water treatment plant or connect to the Dickey rural water system to improve its water, said Tracy Eslinger, an engineer.

"The first thing we have to do is find the money," said Joel Heitkamp, general manager of the Dickey rural water system.

Cline estimates one-third of Oakes' population lives on a fixed income.

"It seems like they're trying to cram this stuff down our throats," he said.

Moore Engineering, which was hired by the city to study the arsenic problem, recommends building the treatment plant with membrane filtration. Though membrane filtration is more expensive than other ways of softening water, it would allow the city to meet stricter federal regulations in the future, said Roger Fenstad, an engineer with the company.

"If we have to do this, just treating arsenic shouldn't be our goal," Fenstad said.

About 30 other cities in the state also are scrambling to meet the arsenic standards.

The largest city on the list, Devils Lake, estimates upgrading its water system would cost up to $18 million. Its arsenic level is estimated at around 40 parts per billion.

"It's going to be very difficult, if not impossible (to upgrade), without grant money," said Michael Grafsgaard, the city engineer.