Jennifer Hall-Massey knows not to drink the tap water in her home near Charleston, W.Va. In fact, her entire family tries to avoid any contact with the water. Her youngest son has scabs on his arms, legs and chest where the bathwater — polluted with lead, nickel and other heavy metals — caused painful rashes. Many of his brother’s teeth were capped to replace enamel that was eaten away.
Neighbors apply special lotions after showering because their skin burns. Tests show that their tap water contains arsenic, barium, lead, manganese and other chemicals at concentrations federal regulators say could contribute to cancer and damage the kidneys and nervous system.
When Mrs. Hall-Massey and 264 neighbors sued nine nearby coal companies, accusing them of putting dangerous waste into local water supplies, their lawyer did not have to look far for evidence. As required by state law, some of the companies had disclosed in reports to regulators that they were pumping into the ground illegal concentrations of chemicals — the same pollutants that flowed from residents’ taps. (see Charles Duhigg, "Clean Water Laws Are Neglected, at a Cost to Health", www.nytimes.com, September 12, 2009)
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8 comments:
I just think that this is disturbing. These people can't even use the water in their homes because it's just so polluted with lead, nickel, and other heavy metals. Whats even more disturbing is that local companies admit to polluting the local water. What choice do these people have? Most of them probably can't afford to move to some place where the water is clean. All they can do is try to sue the companies and get them to clean up their water.
It's upsetting to see that innocent people are suffering just so that companies can save a buck or two. People shouldn't have to worry about whether their water is safe enough to drink. These companies may have to pay up in these lawsuits, but the damage is already done. The water and the environment are already polluted heavily and the people will need to live with it until something is done to purify it again. This was extremely preventable. Another point that hits home in this article is the fact that this is happening in the U.S., our own backyards. It's something we should definitely be very concerned about.
An implied social contract is evoked between the coal companies and the local community in which the companies are granted permission to operate in their locale in exchange for economic and social contributions. In this arrangement, the coal companies bears the burden of ensuring local environmental and legal laws are complied with. The members of the community are stakeholders in this arrangement and entitled to an immediate redress of the situation by the violating companies. At the very least, the companies should undertake responsibility for ensuring proper living conditions and healthcare for the community.
Here in Hawaii we have to learn from the mistakes that have happened elsewhere. We have to prevent the polluting of our waters because of our remote location here in the islands. Losing the ability to use safe water for drinking and agriculture would cripple the islands poeple and economy. Another point that must be understood, is not only do we have to be aware of what happened we have to find ways to solve the problem of contaminated water. This is more resources that must be used in our country.
Water is arguably the single most important resource in the world. Polluting it is just plain idiotic. Isn't fresh water just 2 percent of the entire world's water supply? Reducing that amount by polluting isn't what we need right now.
Wouldn't the coal companies be using the same water supply as the residents as well? Who pollutes something they themselves use? These companies need a lesson on social responsibility.
I can't even imaging what it would be like to not be able to drink tap water from my house. There would definitely be financial impacts on households who would have to buy water or buy water purifying devices. How can people in local companies be okay with polluting other human beings? It is extremely heartbreaking to know that this situation could have been completely avoided.
I think it's sad to hear that these people are either avoiding to use their water or have no other choice but to use it. Having to hear that their tap water is polluted with "heavy metals" is seriously unacceptable. What is their county or government doing about this situation?
I believe that this is just unacceptable! People shouldn't have to worry about their tap water like that. After reading this article, I believe that it is a neccesity to constantly check the water systems so that they are not polluted.
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