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Volume 5, Number 1
41 44
16
in every issue C o v e r F e at u r e
6 Letter from the Chairman:
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
28 Protect the Source
Despite treatment to clean water before it reaches your home, what
22 The Movement happens in your waterway impacts what makes it into your glass.
Featuring Russian
30 Contamination in the Coalfields
Waterkeepers
34 The Long Road to Protecting our Water Supply
64 On the Water 38 Nitrate Contamination in California
39 Threat to Birmingham Water Supply
66 All Hands on Deck:
Take Action! 40 Source Water Protection, Not Filtration
41 Upper Neuse Basin Clean Water Initiative
43 Clean Drinking Water from the Hackensack River
44 Silent Spring of the 21st Century? Pharmaceuticals in Our Water
47 Water, Water, Everywhere...
51 Orange County Toasts Domestic over Imports
53 Safe Drinking Water for All
S=PANGAALAN
CLEAN WATER t SOURCE
On the Cover M A G A Z I N E
use and the elaborate plumbing
systems that bring water to us.
50 S. Buckhout St., Ste. 302, Irvington, NY 10533
Volume 5, Number 1
Board of Directors
Globally, the paper industry is the single Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Andy Willner
largest industrial consumer of water and the chairman
Terry Backer
NY/NJ BAYKEEPER EMERITUS
Erick Bozzi
third greatest emitter of greenhouse gases. Vice chairman, Soundkeeper, Inc. Cartagena Baykeeper Board
Bob Shavelson Jeff Salt
Getting the Paper Right! Treasurer, Cook Inletkeeper Great Salt Lakekeeper
Karl Koplan Mark Mattson
Waterkeeper magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer SECRETARY, PACE UNIVERSITY LAKE ONTARIO WATERKEEPER
ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION CLINIC
recycled paper generated with wind power. We hope that other Fernando Rey
Casi Callaway Cartagena Baykeeper Board
publications will join us in committing to protect our environment Mobile Baykeeper
Deb Self
and building the market for environmentally sustainable products. Donna Lisenby Baykeeper, Inc.
UPPER WATAUGA RIVERKEEPER
The environmental savings from this switch are enormous: Cheryl Nenn
Alex Matthiessen Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper, Inc.
792 trees preserved for the future Murray Fisher
Joe Payne Honorary member
Casco Baykeeper
Richard J. Dove
2,292 lbs. waterborne waste not created Bruce Reznik Honorary member
San Diego coastkeeper
337,370 gallons wastewater flow saved Maya van Rossum
Delaware Riverkeeper
© 2008 Waterkeeper Alliance. Reproduction of editorial content only is authorized with appropriate credit and acknowledgement. Waterkeeper, Channelkeeper and Lakekeeper are registered trademarks
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trademark and service mark of Riverkeeper, Inc. and is licensed for use herein. Baykeeper and Deltakeeper are registered trademarks and service marks of Baykeeper, Inc. and are licensed for use herein.
Soundkeeper is a registered trademark and service mark of Soundkeeper, Inc. and is licensed for use herein.
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Waterkeeper Alliance is a
powerful coalition of more
than 180 local Waterkeeper
Programs — Riverkeeper,
Baykeeper, Coastkeeper
and other grassroots
Waterkeeper organizations
connected into a unified
international force for
environmental protection.
You can help us protect your waterways by sending StormCon August 3–7, 2008
invitations to your peers at www.stormcon/invite. Orlando World Center Marriott
Orlando, FL, USA
Stormwater, the Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals, www.stormcon.com
is the premier publication on runoff pollution prevention. To
subscribe to this free bimonthly journal visit www.stormh20.com. Presented by Stormwater
The Official Journal of StormCon
Splashback
Riverkeeper, Tribes and Fishermen put
Klamath Center Stage at Shareholders’ Meeting
K lamath Riverkeeper, tribal leaders, fishermen and
conservationists returned home to California and
Oregon on May 3, after disrupting Warren Buffett’s
Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders’ meeting
in Omaha, Neb. Buffett is the owner of PacifiCorp,
the company that operates the fish-killing dams on
the Klamath. Tribes, fishermen and advocates asked
sharply pointed questions to Buffett about why he
refuses to agree to sign a dam removal agreement,
effectively making the Klamath River the largest single
issue addressed at the meeting.
A number of shareholders expressed support for
dam removal advocates. “I want to thank the people
who spoke at the meeting for educating the share-
holders about the problems with the Klamath River
dams,” said Joan Mersch, a shareholder from Menlo
Park, Calif. “I think more people need to be educated
about this issue. I appreciate what you’re doing.”
Now action is needed by Buffett and the share- Native women hold a banner and send a loud, clear message to Warren Buffett outside of
holders to sign an agreement to remove the dams. Borsheims jewelry and department store during a cocktail party for shareholders.
Klamath Dam Removal Advocates Win Major Victory in Dams Toxics Case Utah
On March 20, Klamath Riverkeeper won a major con- PacifiCorp’s dams are in the final stages of a feder-
cession from the Environmental Protection Agency ally mandated relicensing process. In order to get a
Hydroelectric
on toxic algae created by PacifiCorp’s reservoirs new dam license, PacifiCorp must get a clean water Project Halted
on the Klamath River. In the wake of litigation filed certification from California and Oregon. The listing Plans to construct
by Klamath Riverkeeper, the agency reconsidered of the river as impaired by toxic algae could jeopar- a Utah’s Hook Can-
its decision to not designate the Klamath River as dize PacifiCorp’s clean water certification and dam yon Pumped Stor-
impaired by the toxic algae. The reservoirs created by relicensing. Last year, releases of toxic algae from age Hydroelectric
PacifiCorp’s dams are the origin of the blooms of the the reservoirs turned the river neon green during Project at Bear Lake
toxic blue green algae microcystis aeruginosa, a liver peak Klamath River fishing season and Native Tribes’ have been nixed
toxin and known tumor promoter. ceremonies, creating a major blow to the remote after the Federal
EPA’s announcement comes at a critical time. Klamath’s rural economy. Energy Regulatory
Commission issued
t STRONG COMMUN
ITIES
a letter in April de-
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Restoration recently completed a six-year long Giant Kelp Restoration Project to restore these
historic kelp forests. Coastkeeper and Waterkeepers trained hundreds of volunteer
divers, restored 18,500 square meters of kelp and educated more than 700,000
southern California schoolchildren about the kelp forests.
18,500 restored
square meters of kelp
theantishoe.com
©2008 Masai USA Corp
{{{{{{ Ripples }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Turkey Creekkeeper
South Riverkeeper Stream Cleanups
In April, South Riverkeeper and 60 volunteers
removed nearly 500 tires from an old illegal tire
Watch the videoS! dump and hauled large debris half a mile through the
www.blackwarriorriver.org/Waterkeeper_videos.htm woods to clean up Maryland’s local streams.
Search for Ganymede the Waterkeeper on YouTube.com French Broad Riverkeeper Adopt-A-Stream
French Broad Riverkeeper’s Adopt-A-Stream program
ede:
G a n y mke
beat records in March. More than 150 volunteers re-
ep er
Th e Wat er Waterkeeper and Starlight moved 201 bags of trash and 50 tires from the French
Broad River and its tributaries, an all-time high.
Runner Release Ganymede Film
Polluters of our waterways, beware! This May,
Waterkeeper Alliance and Starlight Runner Entertain-
ment released the new animated film Ganymede the
Waterkeeper. The film stars Waterkeeper Celeste Swan
who encounters a hideous industrial monster while
Starlight Runner
HONORS
Clean Rivers Day volunteers remove trash from the
Waterkeeper Alliance Kansas Riverkeeper Black Warrior shores of the Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers.
Receives USC Award Wins Award Riverkeeper Named
On Earth Day, the Laura Calwell, Kansas Honorary Citizen Blackwater Nottoway Clean Rivers Day
University of Southern Riverkeeper, received the Warrior, Alabama’s
This spring, 110 volunteers gathered with Blackwater
California honored 2008 Stream Monitor mayor, police chief
Nottoway Riverkeeper for Clean Rivers Day, pulling a
Waterkeeper Alliance of the Year award from and fire chief all
whopping 3.28 tons of trash and debris from the two
with their first the Kansas Wildlife recognized Nelson
Virginia rivers.
Sustainability Champion Federation for her hard Brooke, the Black
Award. Waterkeeper work in defending Warrior Riverkeeper, as
Buffalo Niagara Spring Shoreline Sweep
Alliance was recognized Kansas streams. an Honorary Warrior
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper organized a Spring
for their “steadfast Citizen for his tireless
Shoreline Sweep to celebrate Earth Day weekend in
activism and successful fight in protecting the
April. About 1,000 volunteers pitched in at 31 sites in
litigation against the river for the citizens of
Western New York.
nation’s most egregious Warrior.
polluters.”
United States Senator Barbara Boxer joined San Diego Coastkeeper at the Indiana General
a reception in March to support their marine conservation program. Assembly in support of
Coastkeeper highlighted their efforts to protect the ocean ecosystem legislation that would
through the creation of marine protected areas. Senator Boxer, who provide environmental
was honored with an Environmental Champion Award at the event, and health officials infor-
San Diego Coastkeeper Bruce Reznik spoke about federal efforts to protect the coast and lauded Coastkeeper’s work. mation on how manure
welcomes Senator Barbara Boxer. The event was sponsored by the League of Conservation Voters San Diego and is spread on Indiana’s
the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council. factory farms. The
Indiana Department of
Agriculture is promoting
factory farms as a tool for
Landmark Victory for Farm Area Residents economic development,
but environmental and
Construction
Runoff
Runoff from construction sites is one of the leading
causes of water pollution nationwide.
This runoff carries dirt, debris and chemicals into
our waterways, endangering the health of our com-
munities and our environment. But Waterkeepers are
putting an end to this. In Georgia, Upper Chatta-
hoochee Riverkeeper took action to force developer
Winmark Homes to restore a stream and pay $48,000
after the company drained and filled 1,800 feet of a
stream and violated stormwater laws. In Maryland,
South Riverkeeper forced Greenberg Gibbons Com-
mercial Corp. and the Annapolis Towne Center to pay
$120,000 to remedy Church Creek after the developer
failed to protect the creek from construction runoff.
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Waterkeeper
Campaign
Alliance has been
fighting the environ-
mental and social devas-
tation caused by large factory
farms. CAFOs – or Concentrated
Get involved! Animal Feeding Operations – pack
thousands of animals into warehouse-
Go to www.waterkeeper.org style buildings, creating one of the greatest
sources of water pollution in the country.
to learn more about CAFOs contribute to the pollution of 129,000
river miles, 3.2 million lake acres, and more than
this Campaign. 2,800 estuarine square miles. As a leading advocate
for the public’s right to clean and safe waterways,
Waterkeeper Alliance is fighting to end the irresponsible
STAY TUNED FOR THE practices used by CAFOs that lead to contamination
of surrounding communities and waterways.
CAFO Summit in North Carolina Keeping agriculture healthy and sustainable also
means cleaner, safer food on our tables.
FALL 2008 Hands-on farmers, using proven techniques
that reduce chemical use and animal
cruelty, are the strongest link between
healthy food and a secure
environment.
the movement
Russia:
Water – Great Wealth and
Great Problems
By Maxim Shingarkin
Environmental Program Director, Waterkeepers Russia
R
ussia is a great water power. But her Lake Baikal glistens like the purest pearl Jan. 28 session of the Security Council
water problems are also great — amidst Russia’s bounty. (of the Russian Federation), it was noted,
all the more so because they have Russia’s water wealth constitutes one- “about 40 percent of surface sources and
gone unsolved for decades. Statistics are fifth of the world’s fresh water supply. At 17 percent of underground sources of
impartial and their verdict on the qual- the present time, specialists cite the qual- drinking water do not meet public health
ity of water in various regions of Russia is ity of Russia’s water resources as one of its standards and norms...”
frightening in its consistency: “polluted,” most urgent problems. Our country uses Russia’s great rivers near major metro-
“heavily polluted,” “very dirty”... less than 2 percent of its water resources, politan areas are suffering the fastest rates
Russia is bound by two oceans — the yet the overwhelming majority of its wa- of pollution. Because major cities lack
Pacific and Arctic — and has access to ter bodies are polluted. treatment facilities, hundreds of millions
the Atlantic Ocean through the Baltic This problem is acknowledged on the [sic] of untreated brown water run off into
and Black seas. Numerous world-re- highest government levels. The quality the rivers each year.
nowned rivers that can rightly be called of water — both the tap water that flows Major industrial enterprises that operate
“great” flow through the country: the out of Russians’ faucets at home and the on the predatory principle of maximizing
Volga, Ob, Yenisei and Amur. The ba- water that represents the country’s natu- profits — even at the price of environmen-
sins of Russia’s great rivers encompass ral wealth — is increasingly a key topic of tal disaster — play a “leading,” but far from
more than 11 million square kilometers speeches by leading politicians. During a honorable role, among polluters. That is the
(65 percent) of the country’s total area. discussion of environmental safety at the situation, for example, on Lake Samotlor in
Western Siberia, where the international that is aimed at the environmentally bal-
company TNK-BP is extracting oil. anced, sustained development of water
Also, two Russian rivers have been services, and the protection and remedia-
completely contaminated with radiation tion of water bodies. But this policy is not
because they were forced to “serve” de- formed on its own. Two key factors have
fense industries that produce weapons- influenced its development in Russia.
grade plutonium. The toxic discharges First are the problems directly inher-
of the mining and chemical facility at ited from the USSR, Russia’s legacy of its
Zheleznogorsk (Krasnoyarsk 26) have socialist past. They include the radioac-
poisoned the waters of the great “Father tive contamination of Russia’s rivers men-
Yenisei” for 3,000 kilometers down- tioned above; the system of dams on the
stream. The contaminated waters of Volga that disrupts the natural reproduc-
the Techa River, which has suffered for tion of the fish population (following the
many decades from the operation of the construction of the Volga Hydroelectric
Mayak Production Association (Chely- Station, the spawning area for Russian os-
abinsk Oblast), Russia’s largest nuclear etra sturgeon shrank by 80 percent); the
plant, flow first into the Iset and then thousands of sunken ships in the Volga’s
Waterkeepers Russia
into the Tobol, Irtysh and Ob rivers. waters; and obsolete industrial enter-
This radioactive chain extends for more prises that do not meet environmental re-
than 5,000 kilometers. These figures are quirements. These are the scourges of the
no exaggeration. The immense scale of majority of Russia’s water bodies.
The Techa River in the southern Urals Mountains is this pollution stems from the fact that Second, the conflicts of “young Rus-
contaminated by radiation. the offending industries are at the riv- sian capitalism.” On one hand, the move-
ers’ headwaters. This is a tragic “national ment has to deal with its socialist “dowry”
trait” for Russia. and on the other, is striving for economic
Low water quality is first and foremost profit, ignoring its own long-term inter-
a social problem, for it holds hostage a ests. Russian companies that belong to
large part of the population. The gov- oligarchs are simply off limits to official
ernment has a policy on water resources criticism when it comes to complying
management for drinking water sources with environmental law. The code of en-
T
he Russian Vyatka Riverkeepers slopes of “Ageyevsky Log” in Udmurtiya — taminated by the toxic runoff of certain
program in Kirov was launched in was one Russia’s most beautiful lowland riv- unprincipled wood processing, chemical
April 2008. Program coordinator ers, abounding in boggy forests and marsh- and agricultural enterprises.
Grigori Poskrebyshev (environmentalist es. But barbarous deforestation (forestry is At the same time, the local inhabitants
and author of several environmental pro- the main source of income in Kirov Oblast) are doing great harm to the Vyatka River
grams to preserve the Vyatka) has been resulted in catastrophic declines in river by poaching fish and polluting the river
actively gathering and analyzing informa- and stream levels, which in turn impaired and its banks with trash.
tion about environmental problems on stream conditions and led to the complete There is no question that the main en-
the Vyatka River. disappearance of certain species of fish such vironmental problem, equally economic
In its better days, the Vyatka — which, as the grayling and Siberian lamprey. and social, is that the local population
along with the Kama, springs from the Other once-common Vyatka inhabit- is uninformed and unaware of the finite
ants (sterlet, catfish, carp, Siberian white nature of natural resources and of the
salmon, sneep, sheefish), which are very genuine harm that certain hazardous in-
sensitive to water pollution, are dwindling dustrial facilities pose to the environment
in population because the river is con- and their health.
Первая российская
Vyatka
программа Хранителей
Waterkeepers Russia
Riverkeeper
Р
оссийская программа обмеление лесных рек и ручьев, что в Безусловно, что основная
«Хранители реки Вятки» в городе свою очередь привело к нарушениям экологическая проблема, ровно,
Кирове начала свою работу гидрологического режима и полному как и экономическая и социальная,
в апреле 2008 года. Координатор исчезновению некоторых видов рыб, кроется в непросвещенности,
программы Григорий Поскребышев таких как хариус, сибирская минога. неосведомленности большинства
(эколог, автор многих экологических Другие ранее распространенные населения относительно
проектов по сохранению Вятки) обитатели Вятки (стерлядь, сом, ограниченности природных ресурсов
активно приступил к сбору и карп, нельма, подуст, белорыбица), и реальном вреде окружающей среде
анализу информации относительно являясь наиболее чувствительными и их здоровью некоторых опасных
экологических проблем на реке к загрязнению вод, теряют свою производств.
Вятке. популяцию из-за загрязнения реки Поэтому, мы решили, что основные
В свои лучшие времена Вятка, токсичными стоками некоторых наши усилия по защите природы
рождающаяся вместе с Камой из недобросовестных предприятий реки Вятки будут направлены
ключей на склонах «Агеевского лесоперерабатывающей, химической, на просветительскую работу и
Лога» в Удмуртии, была одной самых сельскохозяйственной отрасли. популяризацию идеи сохранения
красивых равнинных рек в России, В тоже время большой урон окружающей среды.
изобилуя хранящими влагу лесами и природе реки Вятки наносят и сами В настоящее время мы готовим
болотами. Но вследствие варварской местные жители, промышляющие лекции, акции, выставки, конкурсы
вырубки лесов (лесозаготовка - браконьерской ловлей рыбы и для школьников, и студентов, как
основной источник дохода Кировской загрязняющие реку и её берега для будущих представителей высоких
области) началось катастрофическое мусором. экологических целей и технологий.
Мы надеемся, что, обладая воды в Кировской области на здоровье местные экологи начали исследовать
достаточными экологическими населения. проблему загрязнения почв, вод,
знаниями, эти молодые люди в Хранитель Вятки Григорий донных отложений Кировской
будущем не последуют варварским уже собрал доказательную базу о области радиоактивными и другими
примерам своих предшественников. радиоактивном сверхнормативном токсичными отходами в районе
Например, таким как: уничтожение загрязнении Кирово-Чепеским Кирово-Чепецкого химического
большинства родников, пополняющих химическим комбинатом притоков комбината и констатировать
реку Вятку в красивейшем природном Вятки своими сточными водами. экологическую катастрофу.
родниковом комплексе на берегу реки В ближайшее будущее, вместе с В то время активную
из-за строительства горнолыжного поддержкой общественности мы информационную поддержку
комплекса; свободная продажа в собираемся передать собранные экологическим активистам Кирова
специализированных магазинах по материалы в суд. по вопросам переработки токсичных
рыболовству опасных для многих Также мы занимаемся отходов оказывал губернатор штата
редких рыб мелкоячеистых сетей; исследованием прошлой Мичиган Дуглас Гэмбл. К сожалению,
несанкционированные свалки деятельности комбината, когда на активисты не достигли успехов из-за
мусора и мойка автомобилей на нем функционировало производство финансовой непривлекательности
берегу реки также давно уничтожают ядерно-топливного цикла, проектов по переработке отходов
великолепную природу Вятки. перерабатывавшего огромные для местного бизнеса, и власти
Конечно, мы не будем только массы радиоактивных веществ, с также не заинтересовались этими
ждать будущее экологически целью получения обогащённого экологическими проектами.
ответственное поколение, а намерены урана. Дело в том, что отходы Надеемся, что сейчас, совместными
действовать уже сейчас, благо, что этого опасного производства усилиями мы, наконец, поможем
наших сторонников с каждым днем складировались в подземном местным жителям отстоять свои
становится все больше. На призывы полигоне, расположенном в сложной конституционные права на здоровую
Хранителей Вятки откликнулись геологической зоне с участками окружающую среду, включая чистую
многие ученые, например, в качестве повышенной трещивидности пород, воду.
консультанта к нам присоединился когда возможна миграция токсичных
доктор медицинских наук Глушков веществ в верхние слои, используемые Автор: Вера В. Минина
Андрей Васильевич - исследователь для водоснабжения. Координатор экологических
проблемы влияния качества питьевой Примерно десять лет назад программ Фонда «Хранители воды»
Protect
the Source
Cool? Yes. Refreshing? Sure. Clean? Maybe.
Contamination
in the Coalfields
By Krissy Kasserman, » Some of the most contentious battles in the
Youghiogheny coalfields and, in fact, anywhere have been fought
Riverkeeper over water. Is the entitlement to a potable water
supply one that should be regarded as a basic
human right? This is the source of much debate
worldwide — one that while we discuss and pon-
der, more than 2.5 billion people are living with
no regular access to potable water for drinking,
bathing and cooking.
Is it surprising then that some of these people
live here in the United States, where the majority is
fortunate enough to turn on the tap and be reward-
ed with clean water? Ask any mother who has spent
a night or two without potable water whether she
thinks water is a basic human right. Ask the owner
of a small dairy farm who has to haul enough wa-
ter for 100 head of cattle or the elderly person who
either can’t afford to haul water or who can’t physi-
cally do so. These scenes play out every day in coal-
field regions across the country as water supplies
are destroyed or lost due to mining activity.
In rural southwestern Pennsylvania, coal re-
mains king — a king that has little regard for his
subjects. The coal industry recently embarked on
a million-dollar advertising campaign in order to
convince us that coal is now “clean and green.”
Don’t be fooled. America’s addiction to coal is
causing the widespread destruction of drinking
water supplies across the coalfields. Nothing about
this destruction is clean or green.
The Mountain Watershed Association (MWA),
home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, is located
in rural Fayette County, Pa., where a very extensive
public water system exists but many rural areas are
still not served. Residents in these areas rely on pri-
vate water supplies, specifically springs and wells
that are frequently lost due to active coal mining.
In addition, countless others suffer ongoing con-
tamination from abandoned coalmines.
Private water supplies are incredibly vulner-
able as the Pennsylvania Department of Environ-
mental Protection grants them very few protec-
tions and private water supply owners frequently
wrestle with mining companies over water loss or
degradation and replacement water. The question
remains: Can a public water system ever really
“replace” the pristine springs and wells that once
supplied many families?
The PA DEP believes so, but in this area the pub- Tap water from local springs and wells that
lic water is also made up of the very same ground- had been contaminated by mining.
water that is being systematically depleted by the
MWA helped extend public water supplies to this young boy’s neighborhood. Here he is taking his
first drink from his family’s faucet as they were unable to drink water from their private well.
coal industry. Captured springs and wells make up distances to wash clothes in water that wasn’t red
the majority of the source water for the public wa- with iron and were often forced to sponge-bathe
ter supply as well. When the groundwater is gone, or travel to local campgrounds for showers. Fami-
so goes the source water for both private and pub- lies with livestock carried in water from surface
lic water supplies. streams while residents collected runoff from
Many of the early cities that became today’s rain for flushing toilets and watering gardens,
eastern population centers were founded along the a major source of subsistence in this rural area.
banks of mighty rivers including the Ohio, Mis- This lack of water was an incredible hardship for
sissippi and Potomac. In many rural mountainous area residents, some of whom had been hauling
The areas, there was (and still is) no access to large, re- water since 1979. One family spent an average of
liable sources of surface water. Nonetheless, com- $236 a month on water for drinking, cooking and
expenses munities continued to develop, often relying on trips to the Laundromat, but was forced to use
and burden groundwater to supply homes and small farms. their contaminated well water for bathing. Resi-
of fixing These private water supplies have sustained rural
communities for hundreds of years.
dents had organized and petitioned the local wa-
ter authority for water many times but to no avail
the water Throughout Appalachia, as coal was discovered as the expansion of public water into rural areas
supply was in and around these communities, a great boom is extremely costly.
and bust cycle began. Despite the high price that Lack of available water created a very danger-
... shifted to coal is currently fetching, many small coalfield ous situation for the neighborhood. Volunteer fire
Pennsylvania communities are still in the bust period that start-
ed when the large deep mines of the early 1900s
taxpayers closed. Newer, mechanized surface and under-
and the rural ground mining has done nothing to improve the This water tank, dubbed a “water buffalo” in coal country, serves
as temporary water supplies for residents who have lost their
fate of such communities considering they do not
population reap the financial benefits from having the miner-
water. The tanks are generally filled daily with public water from
a water supplier.
living in als torn from beneath their feet. In a classic ex-
ample of profit over people, a coalfield citizen’s
this area. environment is sacrificed for what the coal indus-
try would like us to think of as the “greater good,”
leaving communities poorer, polluted and often
without potable water.
In our own watershed, one particular neighbor-
hood consisting of 40 homes had been without ad-
equate potable water since the early 1980s. Six past
surface mining operations in proximity to these
homes were hydrologically connected to the shal-
low aquifer that the residents were drawing water
from. Extensive blasting in the area had contami-
nated this aquifer. A study to determine the possi-
bility of developing deeper wells also showed mine
drainage contamination. Many of the mines were
abandoned and the bond that had been posted was
not nearly sufficient to fix the damages to the sur-
face of the land or the underlying aquifers.
The water drawn from the shallow wells and
springs in the area was high in iron and sulfur,
discoloring clothing, fixtures, hair and skin. It also
caused burns to the skin of the young and elderly.
Water quantity was also an issue; many springs and
wells in the area would dry up completely during
the summer. At times, the issue was a choice be-
tween being able to drink water or bathe, further
compromising one’s quality of life.
Families in this area are generally low to mod-
erate income and the area is very rural. Located
more than 12 miles from the nearest small town,
residents were forced to haul in water for drink-
ing, cooking and bathing. Many traveled great
from the road and a study of the impacts that such never implemented at all. The most basic run-off
growth would cause. The new measures to pro- controls were absent (i.e. silt fences, hay bales,
tect Big Creek Lake were included in the studies etc). All along the new road, erosion was out of
along with a limit on the number of access points control and dirt was running freely into streams
on the road and some of the alternative designs and wetlands.
that would keep hazardous material from getting We discovered that even “standard practice
into the lake. controls” were not implemented, much less the
Furthermore, the Department of Transpor- ones specified in the settlement. For example, the
tation pledged to create a “working group” that settlement called for 26 million pounds of rock
would be composed of citizens and government to line drainage ditches. These ditches would
leaders as a means of opening communication to catch the flow of water, dirt and sediment, and
avoid future lawsuits. Mobile Baykeeper was to hold the runoff in retention ponds rather than
make recommendations to the Metropolitan Plan- letting the mud run unchecked into streams. In-
ning Organization — which coordinates the use of stead of rock, the department chose to line the
federal funding for transportation projects — and ditches with an inexpensive plastic material. The
the Alabama Department of Transportation with plastic was easily torn and ineffective at direct-
ways we felt they could avoid future problems. ing the flow of mud away, allowing it to flow into
The Department of Transportation also pledged to streams. The contractors also broke a “17.5-acre
protect the drinking water resource and environ- rule,” a standard rule designed to control erosion
ment in future road projects. Mobile Baykeeper, and prevent runoff that allows only 17.5 acres
Alabama Rivers Alliance and Southern Environ- of land to be exposed at once. The contractors,
mental Law Center were pleased with the results. with special permission from the Department,
We believed that catastrophe had been avoided exposed 143 acres at one time.
and that protections were firmly in place to pro- Violations of everything Baykeeper fought to
tect the overall quality of life in Mobile County protect were obvious. Many steep grades run-
through safer transportation and continued pro- ning downhill into water systems had no erosion
tection of our drinking water. control. The Escatawpa River, once deemed “prob-
Construction soon began on the new section of ably the finest undeveloped [pristine] blackwater
US-98 and with that, our progress came tumbling stream in the nation” by federal officials, had a
down. In September 2007, inspections by Press 2-inch layer of red clay on top of its normally clean
Register reporters discovered that the designs and white sand riverbed, with deposits reaching 7
safeguards that the Department of Transportation miles away from the construction site. At the junc-
legally agreed to undertake either failed or were tion between the Escatawpa and Scarbo Creek,
Mobile Baykeeper staffer Sarah Bohnenstiehl, stands by a drainage pipe, showing the amount of fill dirt that will be used to reach the road level grade.
Nitrate Contamination
in California’s Drinking Water Supply
By Linda Sheehan » Nearly half of Californians rely partially or en- (MCL). Tooleville residents have tried drilling
California Coastkeeper tirely on groundwater for their drinking water wells deeper and in the surrounding areas, but can-
Alliance supply. While most of the state is able to provide not locate an aquifer with water under the MCL for
safe drinking water, many communities (primar- nitrate. The Friant-Kern Canal, which carries rela-
ily in the poorest areas) must drink contaminated tively clean surface water, flows literally a few feet
groundwater. For example, in Tulare County — in from the system’s well. But the community does
the heart of California’s vast Central Valley growing not have access to that water, nor could it likely af-
region — 20 percent of small public water systems ford the treatment and infrastructure necessary to
are unable to regularly supply safe drinking water use it without other users to share the costs.
due to nitrate contamination. And more than 40 In partnership with Baykeeper, California Coast-
percent of the 181 private wells tested by the State keeper Alliance and other allies — including the
Water Board in 2006 violated nitrate standards. Community Water Center, Clean Water Action/
The number of public water systems violating ni- Fund and the Environmental Justice Coalition for
trate standards increases significantly each year. Water — are taking action to address this problem
Nitrate contamination in drinking water pri- and ensure all Californians enjoy clean water. First,
marily results from unregulated or under-reg- we are taking on the Central Valley Regional Wa-
ulated activities such as fertilizer applications, ter Quality Control Board’s failure to protect these
Kids play next to Tooleville’s discharges from animal factories and food pro- communities through not enforcing their own man-
well, which provides the cessors, and leaking septic systems. At the higher date to protect groundwater from nitrate pollution.
community drinking
concentrations seen in some drinking water sup- Under California law, regional water boards must
water with levels of nitrate
exceeding legal limits. plies, nitrate can cause stillbirths, infant deaths regulate all discharges — including from irrigated
Behind the well lies the and cancer in adults. agriculture — to protect all waters of the state, as
Friant-Kern Canal. Unfortunately, nitrate contamination of drink- well as groundwater. But lax regulation, oversight
ing water supplies disproportionately impacts our and enforcement in the Central Valley and else-
smallest and poorest communities, farm labor where has shifted the burden of controlling nitrate
camps and schools. One example is Tooleville, a discharges from those who created them — such as
community of approximately 350 people located corporate farms, animal factories and food proces-
Michelle Orozco holds a near the city of Exeter in Tulare County. Residents sors — to communities least able to shoulder that
sign saying, "Enough!" in are primarily farm workers with a median house- burden. These groups have filed petitions against
front of the Regional Water
hold annual income of $16,000. A nonprofit mutual the Regional Water Board for failure to adequately
Quality Control Board
at a press conference to water association provides water to the community regulate irrigated agriculture and dairy facilities in
announce a suit against the from two wells, both of which produce water with the Central Valley.
Board for failure to protect nitrate over the Maximum Contaminant Level Additionally, the Community Water Center
groundwater from the works directly with many of these communities in
region’s 1600 dairy facilities.
outreach, education, organizing and technical as-
sistance to help communities develop long-term
solutions to drinking water problems, access bond
funding and other sources of funding and exper-
tise. Currently the center is working with Clean
Water Action, the Environmental Justice Coalition
for Water and California Rural Legal Assistance
Foundation to develop comprehensive programs
in the Central Valley and Central Coast to address
nitrate pollution and dilapidated infrastructure.
While our poorest communities have borne the
brunt of our misguided water policy until now,
California’s laws give us all a critical opportunity
to make the state a national leader in protecting
groundwater quality. It is our goal to make that
happen so that clean drinking water, a basic human
right, is a right available to all. w
outfalls in red;
water, and heavy metals such as iron, aluminum water intake to
and manganese, among other pollutants, are dis- right of the “b”
charged. If there is a location where a coal mine in “Mulberry.”
should be denied a permit, this is it. Our drinking
water is too important. revitalization, embracing the river as an asset. Al-
The Mulberry Fork supplies Birmingham with lowing this mine to destroy a major bend of the river
tens of millions of gallons of water each day. Water- would be a devastating blow to such plans.
shed protection is the key component to a healthy Native Americans used the river here for cen-
water supply, especially for the land immediately turies while respecting it and the land that drains
adjacent to the water intake. Once watershed pro- to it. There are six known archaeological sites
tections are lost and pollution is inevitable, chemi- throughout Shepherd Bend. The Alabama Histori-
cal treatment of the water becomes necessary. It is cal Commission has therefore asked for continued
much more costly to treat polluted water than clean study of the site for additional cultural resources
water. The Birmingham Water Works is concerned prior to disturbance of any kind.
about this mine’s potential to pollute our water and Black Warrior Riverkeeper submitted com-
raise treatment costs. ments on the ADEM National Pollutant Discharge
Property owners on Shepherd Bend who were list- Elimination System wastewater discharge permit
ed in the permit application are as follows: Ala-West during the public comment period. Our comments
LLC, the University of Alabama, Dr. Heaton, Soterra included a request for an ADEM public hearing
LLC, Paul Blalock, Nathaniel Key, Ralph Brasfield, on behalf of our members and more than 50 indi-
John Hollis and Gail Beaird. The University of Ala- viduals in the area. We await ADEM’s response to
bama owns a large chunk of the proposed area, be- our comments, as well as their decision on allow-
lieved to be near 1,300 acres. We urge these property ing a hearing where the public can voice concerns.
owners to consider a use which will be more protec- Should a hearing be denied, ADEM will surely give
tive of our drinking water supply and local commu- this mine a permit. We are monitoring this mine’s
nities. Many locals see opportunities for community progress closely. w
» In the interest of protecting human health and sumers. Furthermore, some municipalities have re-
preserving freshwater ecosystems, filtration of pub- ported major outbreaks of waterborne pathogens
lic drinking water supplies should be considered as from filtered water supplies. In 1993, an estimated
a last resort only when an unfiltered water supply 400,000 people were infected with Cryptosporidi-
poses an imminent threat to public health. Sound um in Milwaukee’s filtered water supply.
watershed protection programs not only safeguard Reliance on filtration may also lead system oper-
human health and aquatic life but also are vastly ators to unwisely relax watershed protection efforts
more economical than filtration. under a misconception that source protection is no
Over the last 10 years, New York City has spent longer necessary because the water is being filtered
$1.3 billion on successful watershed protection before it is delivered to consumers. This concept
programs. In stark contrast, a filtration plant for ignores the need to protect watershed residents
the Catskill/Delaware system, which provides on and upstream consumers who have wells or make
average 90 percent of the city’s drinking water, withdrawals from a public system at a point up-
would cost ratepayers $10 billion in capital costs stream from filtration. This problem is exemplified
plus $365 million in annual operation and mainte- in the city’s heavily developed Croton watershed
nance. Costs for the filtration plant currently being where a number of communities will continue to
built for the city’s Croton system, which supplies receive unfiltered drinking water before it reaches
10 to 30 percent of the water supply, continue to the filtration plant in the Bronx.
increase with current estimates from the Indepen- Watershed protection programs provide regula-
dent Budget Office climbing to $2.8 billion. tory mechanisms to avert these problems, keeping
In addition to being expensive, filtration is not source water clean so there is no need for pollutant
an absolute barrier to contaminants. For example, removal. By educating stakeholders and decision-
many pharmaceuticals are not removed during the makers, and enhancing protection of surface waters,
filtration process. Instead they pass through the fil- our communities can supply safe drinking water with
ter media and are delivered to the taps of city con- the most effective and economical approach. w
» On Oct. 23, 2006, the City of Raleigh and a coali- threat to Falls Lake, Raleigh’s only drinking water
tion of land trust organizations held a press con- supply. An upstream municipality (Butner) re-
ference on the shores of Falls Lake to announce cently purchased more than 60,000 lbs. of addi-
a new conservation plan called the Upper Neuse tional nitrogen capacity (per year) with the intent
Basin Clean Water Initiative. The visionary land to expand its wastewater discharge to Falls Lake
acquisition plan seeks to preserve 24,000 acres rather than make needed upgrades to its strug-
along critical stream corridors in order to protect gling sewage treatment plant. Compromising
water quality for nine Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) a drinking water supply for more than 400,000
area drinking water reservoirs in the Upper Neuse people was not an option to Neuse River Foun-
River Basin, including Falls Lake, the second larg- dation, who vowed to fight the plan and made it
est drinking water supply in North Carolina. clear Raleigh needed to do more to protect re-
During the news conference, Raleigh Mayor gional drinking water supplies.
Charles Meeker credited the Neuse River Foun- The foundation stated that there are real eco-
dation for the idea and for encouraging the city to nomic ramifications when we don’t take preven-
partner with state and local land trusts to protect tative measures to protect our drinking water
drinking water supplies for 535,000 people. and urged them to create a source water protec-
The Upper Neuse Basin Clean Water Initia- tion plan to protect water quality upstream from
tive has since been hailed as a National model for Falls Lake.
source water protection. Local municipalities and Raleigh eventually partnered with Neuse River
the State of North Carolina have invested millions Foundation and Southern Environmental Law
of dollars to ensure clean drinking water for future Center to defeat the Butner’s pollution trading
generations, but it almost didn’t happen. plan — the largest water pollution trade ever pro-
Two years earlier, on May 18, 2004, the Neuse posed for U.S. waters. Neuse River Foundation
River Foundation addressed the Raleigh City later worked with several conservation groups to
Council and alerted the city about a dangerous draft legislation and lobby for the passage of the
water pollution-trading scheme that posed a Safe Drinking Water Protection Act of 2005, en-
“The Neuse River Foundation has been of great assistance to the City
of Raleigh in the last three years bringing key issues to our attention
and in helping resolve environmental problems ... the Riverkeeper
suggested the idea of having land trusts acquire stream buffers in the
Falls Lake Watershed in order to preserve water quality.”
Charles Meeker, Mayor of Raleigh
suring the creation of a nutrient reduction strategy for reelection (receiving more than 70 percent of
(TMDL) for Falls Lake which is now in the process the popular vote). Several land trusts have since
of being developed. taken the lead in developing and implementing the
Yet, the recommendations to create an Upper plan, but the idea for the plan became reality only
Neuse Basin source water protection plan died because of the persistence of the foundation.
quietly in committee. City staff struggled with the A major theme for Waterkeepers is the notion
idea of the city leading a source water protection of constant vigilance. If the Neuse River Founda-
plan on such a grand scale. Thankfully, it was be- tion had not tracked the plan for two years as it
ing tracked through every stage of the process and moved slowly through committee then died, only
was resurrected when Neuse River Foundation to be resurrected, it never would have happened.
Falls Lake, North Carolina’s proposed an alternative plan to Mayor Meeker Future generations may never know where clean
largest drinking water supply, in which the city could partner with land trusts. water in the Upper Neuse Basin Reservoirs
is being preserved thanks to
Mayor Meeker liked the idea. As result, he made comes from, but we know they have their local
the Upper Neuse Basin Clean
Water Initiative. protecting the cities drinking water his platform Riverkeeper to thank. w
Istock
» In the 1960s, Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking nations. New medicines have rapidly entered the
pronouncement that the pesticide DDT was enter- marketplace to increase fertility, change women’s
ing the food chain — thereby threatening the health and men’s hormone levels, cure heart disease,
and well-being of entire species — was a wake-up stop a raging migraine, increase growth, im-
call to both elected officials and the American munize against potential diseases, and provide
public. Carson scientifically linked cancers and ge- a quality of life to people suffering from mental
netic mutations to years of rampant, unregulated illness. And while technology has improved the
chemical use on our crops and in our environment. lives of so many, there is an environmental and
Chemical companies launched massive disinfor- human health price to our pharmaceutically
mation campaigns against Carson, fomenting fears charged citizenry.
of increased disease, and insect and vermin infes- Untreated pharmaceutical waste is entering our
tation. A President’s Science Advisory Committee drinking water supply and our waterways through a
was formed under the leadership of President John variety of sources including wastewater treatment
F. Kennedy to examine Carson’s findings — and plants, livestock farms and landfills. Humans ex-
ultimately affirmed her conclusions. The U.S. gov- crete up to 90 percent of pharmaceuticals ingested
ernment eventually banned DDT. and also add to the problem by dumping unused or
Over the last several decades, a new silent expired meds down the toilet. Untreated effluent
spring has popped onto the global landscape: (raw sewage) is a major problem in metropolitan
Copious amounts of pharmaceuticals (controlled cities such as New York City and has been identi-
and uncontrolled substances) have become stan- fied as a contributing factor to the vast increase in
dard for people residing in rich and developing endocrine-disrupters entering our environment.
In Brief
The drinking water These contaminants Exposure to these Much of this pollution
of at least 41 million are ubiquitous in the substances can cause comes from sewage.
Americans is environment. They can antibiotic resistance, Wastewater treatment
contaminated with be found in the rivers, cancer, mutations, and plants are not designed
painkillers, antibiotics, lakes and coastal neurobehavioral and to remove medications
anti-convulsants, mood waters of any place reproductive problems that are excreted or
stabilizers and sex humans live or visit. in humans and wildlife. dumped down drains
hormones. and toilets.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
tion measures, and most are wary of even discuss- sumption, further demonstrating that our higher
ing the idea of mandatory conservation. Despite re- water usage is more choice than necessity.
peated efforts to push cities in the region to expand That said, too many people live in San Diego to
conservation efforts, water usage actually went up be supported by our local water supplies, regardless
in 2007 to its highest levels in five years, even after of how successful conservation efforts are. Conser-
the City of San Diego launched its 20-gallon-chal- vation, however necessary, is not sufficient to cre-
lenge, an under-funded education effort aimed at ate the extra water that we need in the region.
having locals voluntarily reduce water usage by 20 Coastkeeper has had more success advocating
gallons per household per day. Nearly 70 percent for water recycling — specifically, taking waste-
of residential water use in San Diego County is for water that would be discharged into the ocean
irrigation of landscapes, not for sanitation or con- through the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment
in the mid 1990s. Further, subject to the mandatory shows, water restrictions
total water consumption development of internal help communities rethink
in Melbourne from April policies for conservation. their water consumption
1, 2007 to March 31, The highest levels of habits and assist in
2008 was 368 billion water restrictions involve setting the course for
litres, compared to 443.5 energy “brown outs,” as a new water ethos.
billion litres from April 1, the production of energy Melbournians pride
2005 to March 31, 2006. is an enormous consumer themselves on having
During this period, only of precious water gardens that require
• Fit your hose with a trigger nozzle. • Automatic dripper system can be used on specified days
between midnight and 2 a.m.
• No hosing paved areas.
• No garden watering at all on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
• Apply to fill a new pool.
• No car washing unless via an efficient commercial car wash.
• Non-residential customers who use more than
10ML per annum of potable (drinking) water from • One in four sports grounds can only be watered.
an urban supply are required to develop a water • Industry must complete a water conservation plan.
management action plan.
Australia Comparative: Water Recycling the salt out of ocean water so it can be used as
a drinking water source. At this point, though,
Diversifying the water supply is one strategy being employed by the Victorian Coastkeeper and other environmental groups
government to provide what they refer to as “water security.” In 2002, they set a have challenged local desalination projects due to
target of recycling 20 percent of Melbourne’s wastewater. In February of this year, their impacts on the marine environment as well
the government announced it had already exceeded this target, with some 22 as the carbon footprint of such facilities.
percent of wastewater being recycled for use by market gardeners, industry, sporting Specifically, Poseidon Resources has proposed
grounds, nurseries and new housing developments. building a 50-million-gallon-per-day desalination
One of Melbourne’s two major sewage treatment plants is currently being facility in the City of Carlsbad in northern San Di-
upgraded to enable treatment of wastewater to tertiary standard. When complete ego County, which uses an astounding 217 gallons of
in 2012, it will provide an additional 100GL/yr for uses currently being met by water per household per day. The Poseidon project
drinking water, such as cooling the dirty, ugly brown coal power plants in the has drawn broad criticism from the environmental
Latrobe Valley (southeast Victorian). community and fishing organizations for its plans
Another proposal being considered by the Victorian Government is to pump to use an outdated and destructive technology to
all the recycled water all the way back up into the Yarra River and simultaneously intake 300 million gallons a day of water from the
extract more natural river water. The Yarra Riverkeeper has been vocal in his sensitive Agua Hedionda lagoon. Poseidon plans
opposition to this proposal. to use the existing intake infrastructure from the
With average flows in the Yarra now only 20 percent of their level of the last Encina Power Station, which plans to halt its use of
40 years, the Yarra Riverkeeper acknowledged that recycled water was better than ocean water to cool the power plant in response to
no water, but was a definite second choice to natural river water, which provided the Riverkeeper II decision, to convert lagoon wa-
all the necessary life signals. The Yarra Riverkeeper’s lack of enthusiasm for the ter into drinking water.
proposal relates to the government using the proposal as an excuse to take more Coastkeeper and other environmental leaders
water out of the Yarra River. Support for the proposal would come if it provided have also decried the facility’s potential impact
additional water to the Yarra and they took no more water out. Through the on climate change. Currently, 19 percent of all en-
“Go Yarra Flow” campaign, the Yarra Riverkeeper is advocating for the Victorian ergy usage in California goes towards transport-
government to honor its commitment to deliver a minimum environmental flow ing water throughout the state and to customers.
regime for the Yarra and thereby provide a healthy river system for the platypus, It is, therefore, critical for places like San Diego
the short-finned eel and other creatures that need a healthy Yarra for survival. to develop local water supplies in order to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, ocean desalination
is the only water supply option that actually uses
water from the city’s North City reclamation facil- more energy than water transfers — 47 percent
ity to augment the San Vicente Reservoir. more energy than transporting water from the San
In 2007, the San Diego City Council voted to Joaquin Delta.
move ahead with a pilot project to assess the viability In the face of tremendous political pressure and
of this mixed-use strategy, even overriding a mayoral overwhelming financial resources, Coastkeeper,
veto for the first time ever under a new “Strong May- Surfrider and their environmental partners have
or’” form of government. The treated wastewater gotten three separate agencies — the California
program will help reduce San Diego’s reliance on im- Coastal Commission, California State Lands Com-
ported drinking water, safeguard San Diego’s water mission and San Diego Regional Water Board — to
future and decrease sewage discharges to the ocean. acknowledge the projects shortcomings and begin
Often derided by opponents who have dubbed to put in place requirements that the facility mini-
the project “toilet to tap,” Coastkeeper has support- mize and mitigate its marine and climate impacts.
ed indirect potable reuse, which meets stringent While desalination may play a crucial role in help-
federal and state drinking water standards. ing to solve San Diego’s water crisis, such projects
In addition to moving ahead with the pilot proj- must be undertaken using the most environmen-
ect to assess technological feasibility, the city is also tally and energy-friendly technologies to ensure we
moving ahead with a large-scale community out- do not exacerbate other environmental concerns as
reach effort to make San Diegans aware that they we address our water shortages.
safely drink “toilet to tap” presently — as 400 mil- San Diego, like most cities in the Southwest, has
lion gallons of treated sewage is discharged into the grown far too large for it local water supplies. The
Colorado River before it is treated and becomes impacts of this growth are felt far beyond these cit-
drinking water for the region — and that similar ies, though, as water transfers have had devastat-
potable reuse projects are underway in numerous ing impacts on the Colorado River and San Joaquin
locales including Virginia, Texas and Arizona; inter- Delta, and have even contributed to our climate
nationally in places like Singapore; and even in San change problem. Creative solutions that will not
Diego’s neighbors to the north, Orange County. force us to trade water security for energy and en-
The other water supply option gaining support vironmental insecurity are needed now to address
in the San Diego region is desalination — taking this problem while there is still time. w
» One of the telltale signs of a progressive society wise, a growing demand on Colorado River water
is the ability to harness water and transport it to from Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico has put
the places where people need it most. The city of Southern California water districts in a position to
Alexandria in ancient Egypt, for instance, was built find new sources of water… or to make better use
» My story began several years ago with an un- The following week, I rode a ferry from my
likely, but fortunate encounter. I was at a boat home in Michigan to Walpole Island, where 100
store when I overheard a man talking about First Nations people gathered to learn about the
chemical companies discharging waste into the chemical waste in their waterway. I listened to
St. Clair River. I kept wondering what he was talk- story after story of the problems that the commu-
ing about, so I approached him to find out more. nity faced. They were suffering a bitter inventory
The man was from the First Nations community of health problems from autism, attention deficit
of Walpole Island and they were up against the disorder, birth defects and miscarriages to cancer
chemical company Imperial Chemical Industries, and diabetes, along with the resultant loss of their
which was dumping waste into their nearby river. culture and traditions. Their story hit home for me.
We walked out of the store together and spoke for I felt emotionally attached to these people. I told
nearly three hours. He was an incredibly passion- them that I would go back to the other side of the
ate man and because I listened to every word of river and do what I could to help them. From 1986 to 2000, the
his story, he invited me to Walpole Island to meet Within weeks, Imperial Chemical was due for a First Nations recorded 700
chemical spills by Imperial
the community myself. hearing. The public would be allowed to comment
Chemical Industries into St.
Clair River.
Lake HUron
Monitoring Our Water
The St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair Monitoring
System has been installed in 13 different Michigan
cities from Port Huron to Wyandotte. Each city is
equipped with advanced technologies to test for
Port Huron
hazardous chemicals and other warning signs.
The project provides the public with up-to-date
information on drinking water quality and enables
environmental and health officials to respond
Marysville
immediately to emergencies.
St. Clair
Algonac
Mt. Clemens
Ontario,
Canada
Lake
Grosse Pointe Farms
St. Clair
Detroit-WW Park II
Southwest Detroit
Wyandotte
Lake Erie
Lake Erie
54 Waterkeeper Magazine Summer 2008 www.waterkeeper.org
on the company’s performance and it seemed like a pany, dumped 300 pounds of vinyl chloride into
chance to the First Nations of Walpole Island to re- the St. Clair River upstream of 13 drinking water
ceive compensation for the calamity they were fac- plants. Neither the Canadian government nor the
ing. But as the hearing progressed, the only conces- public was informed until five days after the spill.
sion Imperial Chemical was willing to make was to When I heard the story, I arranged for the Detroit
supply the First Nations with bottled water. Mem- News to write a front-page story about the spill so
bers of the First Nations told the company that this that the public could be warned about their drink-
was not just about their drinking water. This was ing water. When they were, they were furious. The
about their Mother Earth and all the life that de- nearby communities began to question why they
pended on the water for survival; they were not go- were not informed. The Michigan Department of
ing to compromise. But in the end the company was Environmental Quality and the Ministry of the
granted permission by the Canadian government to Environment in Canada tried their best to calm
discharge their chemical waste into the St. Clair everybody down.
River and the First Nations would pay the price. Soon after the chemical spill, Royal Polymers
I was upset at what had transpired, but I knew was due for a hearing, again giving the public the
that our fight had to continue because we could not opportunity to review the company’s performance.
keep going on like this. And the First Nations were Royal Polymers attended the hearing with their
tremendously organized themselves. I learned that consultant scientists and I attended with two toxi-
every time there was a spill, they recorded it. Since cologists from Wayne State Medical School. The
I was also the chairman of our water board and in company and their consultants stood at the micro-
the position to hold meetings with our drinking wa- phone and assured the public that vinyl chloride
ter plants operators, I brought members of the First would not hurt them. After the company testified,
Nations and the water plant operators together for the toxicologists and I took the microphone and
a meeting. And when they shared their data, it was told the public about the toxic effects of vinyl chlo-
hard to stomach. In 14 years, from 1986 to 2000, the ride, one of the most potent causes of liver cancer
First Nations recorded 700 chemical spills on their known. We essentially took the information that
river. They had to shut their drinking water valves Royal Polymers and the consultants were distribut-
until the chemicals had gone by and they brought in ing and threw it out the window.
water tanks to avoid the contaminated water. This information enraged the public. They were
Meanwhile, none of our water plant operators ready to go to chemical valley and bulldoze the
had heard about these spills. Their facilities regu- Royal Polymer facility. They were being kept in the
larly checked for bacteria and pathogens, but not dark and started to bring up spills from the past
chemicals. The truth was hidden from the public that they were never warned about. There were
and there was no protection for our water if there the 700 spills that the natives documented that
was a chemical spill. It was clear that we needed they were never informed about. There were also
a system to monitor our drinking water. I asked a three American cities that discharged raw sew-
friend to put together a report detailing the costs age upstream of drinking water plants. And then
and the mechanics of a new drinking water moni- there were two paper mills in Port Huron, Mich.,
toring system for our watershed. The report called that discharged a chemical into the river that, to
for a new system for the 90-mile corridor from Lake this day, is indeterminate. The Ministry of the Envi-
Huron to Lake Erie. We had a plan, and I could now ronment in Canada and the Michigan Department
concentrate my efforts into convincing our public of Environmental Quality decided that they would
officials to put the system in place. start reporting these spills to the public.
It was at this crucial time that a second major
Spills and More Spills event happened. In February 2004, I was at home
I traveled across the state for more than four years, watching the Super Bowl when suddenly an emer-
seeking support to build a drinking water monitor- gency manager came on television and warned,
ing system. Finally, two things happened that broke “Drinking water contaminated. Don’t drink it,” and
the camel’s back. The first major event took place then went off the air within seconds. I was won-
when the Great Blackout eclipsed the Northeast, dering what was going on, when again he came on
the Midwest and the province of Ontario, Canada the air and warned, “Drinking water contaminated.
in August 2003. Many of the companies operating Chemical spill.” The announcement came on a total
in the industrial area known as “chemical valley,” no of six to eight times and my phone started ringing
longer had electricity to operate or cool their prod- with people asking me what was happening to our
uct. They began spewing black smoke across the sky, drinking water.
and chemical valley was enveloped in darkness. Soon enough I received a fax from Walpole
During the chaos that ensued from the black- saying that that a Canadian chemical company,
out, Royal Polymers, a Canadian chemical com- Imperial Oil Limited, had just discharged 1,200 to
1,400 barrels of organic chemicals called methyl ed that I would get the money to build this system.
ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone into the St. I lobbied one of our congresswomen who helped us
Clair River. The Walpole natives had to close their secure $1 million and then some additional fund-
drinking water plant. Shortly after, I received a call ing from St. Clair and Macomb counties. We could
from the Michigan Department of Environmental monitor from Port Huron to Macomb and down
Quality. They had just closed all the drinking water to Mt. Clemens, about half of the distance that we
plants on the St. Clair River all the way down to needed to monitor.
Today, Mt. Clemens. They sent planes to Lansing, Mich., While we were securing funds to build the sys-
we have to test the river, which was ice-covered. The chemi- tem, an official from the Michigan Department of
the most cals had already gone under the ice and where they
went after that, it was hard to say.
Environmental Quality was telling me that what I
wanted was impossible, that the technology did not
sophisticated The following week, the environmental agencies even exist. But we proved him wrong right then and
real-time held a meeting at Port Huron and the room was there. I met a woman who told me about a state-of-
even more crowded than after the blackout spills. the-art drinking water monitoring system that was
monitoring Both the Canadian Environment Ministry and our installed in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the Ohio River af-
system in the Department of Environmental Quality stood up ter a tetrachloride spill closed every drinking water
and assured the American citizens that there was intake on the river and affected seven states. We
United States no reason to worry about the chemical spill on the sent our water plant operators, health department
... [It] detects American side. They told the American citizens officials and state environmental agency represen-
that there is a chemical spill on the Canadian side, tative to the Ohio River to learn more. When they
29 specific it stays on the Canadian side and the water doesn’t saw it for themselves, they could not deny what we
chemicals mix. I was so angry at that point. I stood up and were saying all along and helped secure the final
said, “What do you mean the water doesn’t mix? funding we needed for the entire system.
and monitors I used to fish in that river. If there is a spill on the Today, we have the most sophisticated real-time
for signs of a Canadian side, it impacts us here. The international monitoring system in the United States. Our new
chemical spill boundary line does not keep the water from mix-
ing.” Anybody who would believe what they were
drinking water monitoring system is almost entirely
installed and now measures water quality in 14 dif-
or a water telling us would believe that a cow could jump over ferent Michigan cities from Port Huron to the city
plant failure. the moon. I was tired of being kept in the dark. of Wyandotte, just south of Detroit. The system de-
tects 29 specific chemicals and monitors for signs of a
Enough is Enough chemical spill or a water plant failure. We can identify
At this point, I decided that the spills had to stop hydrocarbons from gasoline and diesel fuel to oil; or-
and the public had to know about their drinking ganic compounds from benzene and xylene to vinyl
water. I drew up an emergency meeting with my chloride; along with physical properties of water like
water board and I told them that we needed to do pH, turbidity, temperature and dissolved solids.
something once and for all. I remember sitting at The best part of the system is that it is not just
that meeting and it hit me. There was one federal me who can find out about the state of our drinking
law that fined boat operators up to $25,000 for water — it’s the entire public. Up until now, the only
throwing bilge waste into our waterways. Now monitoring system we had on our river was owned
imagine what a company like Imperial Oil Limited by the chemical industry. That’s like the fox watch-
would have to pay for spilling 1,200 to 1,400 barrels ing the henhouse. But this system has put the infor-
of organic chemicals. mation back into citizen hands so that we know that
Our county environmental prosecutor and I the water we are drinking is safe. Today, I or any
drew up a letter demanding that meaningful and other citizen can turn on the computer and look at
immediate action be taken to protect the health of the state of our entire watershed without even get-
the citizens of Canada, the U.S. and the Walpole ting into a boat. This means that we can take the
Island First Nations and sent it to Imperial Oil Lim- energy that we used to prove that our water was
ited and the press. The next thing I knew, television contaminated and put it into action and advocacy.
news reporters were in my driveway and radio sta- What I want people to know is that these things
tions were calling me. We had caused a firestorm are possible and that they can be done. I had to stop
and people wanted to know how ordinary citizens listening to the government agencies that told me
dared to take on a huge company like Imperial Oil that it was impossible to monitor our water to en-
for endangering our health. Soon the Canadian sure our health. I had to look past that and really
government fined the chemical companies between fight for what our citizens needed. If I was able to
$500,000 and $700,000 and changed the protocol do this in our watershed just downstream of one of
on telling us about spills. North America’s most industrialized zones, anyone
We had won big, but we still needed a monitor- can. And if we all truly believe this, then we really
ing system to tell us that our water was safe. I decid- can have safe drinking water for all. w
photos.com
removing too much water from the stressed Great this imperative, a project that could
Lakes and groundwater is being pumped so hard also employ millions and alleviate
in Florida, large sinkholes are swallowing houses poverty. Our cities must be ringed
and even shopping centers. The U.S. now depends with green conservation zones as we restore forests
on groundwater for 50 percent of daily water use and wetlands. It is necessary to create the condi-
and groundwater dependency is much higher in tions that allow rainwater to remain in local wa-
other parts of the world. Our unhealthy collec- tersheds. This means restoring the natural spaces
tive addiction to bottled water must end. Humans where rainwater can fall and where water can flow.
put 50 billion gallons (100 billion litres) of water in Water retention can be carried out at all levels: roof
plastic bottles around the world last year, 95 per- gardens in family homes and office buildings; ur-
cent of which were not recycled. Simply put, we ban planning that allows rainwater to be captured
cannot continue to mine groundwater supplies at and returned to the earth; water harvesting in food
a rate greater than natural recharge. If we do, there production; capturing daily water discharge and re-
will not be enough water for the next generation. turning it clean to the land, not to the rising oceans.
Extractions cannot exceed recharge just as a bank Many examples abound, such as the New Mexican
account cannot be drawn down without new de- “Acequia” system, which uses an ancient natural
posits. Governments everywhere must undertake ditch irrigation tradition to distribute water. The
intensive research into their groundwater supplies International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance works
and regulate groundwater takings before their globally to promote sustainable rainwater harvest-
underground reservoirs are gone and legislate to ing programs. Simply put, the water in the hydro-
protect these vital water sources. In May, Vermont logic cycle will provide for us forever if we care for Maude Barlow chairs the
adopted an important groundwater protection law it and allow the earth to renew it. boards of Food and Water
that extends the public trust doctrine to the state’s Watch in the U.S. and the
groundwater. No one person or company owns wa- Council of Canadians in
ter any longer; rather, it belongs to all the citizens Canada. Her latest book
of Vermont. Furthermore, in times of shortage, A New Water Narrative is Blue Covenant, The
there will be a water-use priority given to drinking For these vital steps to be taken however, we hu- Global Water Crisis and the
water and food production over water for commer- mans will have to adopt more sustainable economic Coming Battle for the Right
cial purposes. and trade policies than those that currently domi- to Water, published by
nate in most of the world. The tenets of economic New Press.
globalization promote head-to-head nation-state
competition, water-guzzling export oriented agri-
culture production and growth at all cost. The late
American environmentalist Edward Abbey said
that growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of
the cancer cell; it must turn on its host to survive. modity to be sold to those who can afford it and
The earth’s carrying capacity is full. We cannot add denied to those who cannot. What is needed now
more to it. It is time to give back to nature what we is binding law at all levels of government, includ-
have taken from it. This will mean that all trade and ing the UN, to codify that states have the obligation
economic policies must be tested against their im- to deliver sufficient, safe, accessible and affordable
pact on water and the environment and emphasis water to their citizens as a public service. A United
will have to be placed on more local and sustain- Nations Covenant would set the framework of wa-
able food production. We will likely have to reduce ter as a social and cultural asset and establish the
the virtual trade in water and ban or limit the mass indispensable legal groundwork for a just system of
movement of water out of watersheds and aquifers distribution. It would serve as a common, coher-
by pipeline. ent body of rules for all nations and clarify that it
As well, a “Blue Covenant” must include a is the role of the state to provide water to all of its
pledge from the wealthy to the poor for water citizens. Such a covenant would also safeguard al-
justice. Dirty water is the No. 1 killer of children ready accepted human rights and environmental
around the world. Water apartheid is the single principles in other treaties and conventions.
greatest symbol of a class divided world. Simply A new water narrative would marry the need to
put, if their parents had money to buy clean water, protect and conserve water everywhere with the
these children would not be dying. Water must be right of all people and other species to clean drinking
seen as a human right available to all, not a com- water. Water for life, water for all — it must be so. w
Call to Ac tion
Every drop counts! You can make a difference in protecting our water supplies.
Use the following tips to act.
Local Motion
Encourage your municipality Get involved with your local planning, zoning and Insist that your drinking water supplier
to provide incentives for water community action boards to preserve green space, provide your community with legally required,
conservation and to seek sustainable protect flood plains and incorporate environmental detailed and accurate right-to-know reports
sources of water for your community. site design into new and re- development about the quality of your drinking water.
For ideas and tools, check out projects to reduce water use and waste. For more information,
www.waterwiser.org. Visit www.cwp.org for help. go to www.crtk.org/drinkingwater.cfm.
Individual Responsibility
Never flush medicines or Conserve water. Maintain a green yard with Use a rain barrel to collect and Join your local
other hazardous waste down Check out www.epa. native vegetation, trees and store rainwater and roof runoff Waterkeeper
the toilet — they can pollute gov/watersense to shrubs to reduce the need for watering your yard and program at www.
drinking water supplies and the find a list of certified for irrigation and polluting garden instead of using potable waterkeeper.org.
environment. Search for local water-saving (and pesticides and fertilizers. Go drinking water. Visit www.lid-
hazardous waste collection money-saving!) to www.wildflower.org to find stormwater.net/homedesign.
facilities at www.earth911.org. products. what’s right for your location. htm for more ideas.
T
he time to reclaim our it’s not EPA’s desires that are being fulfilled by its
government and wrest several illegal rulemakings, but those of the pollut-
control of the EPA from ing industries.
self-interested and improper U.S. coal-fired power plants are the single largest
industry influence is fast ap- source of airborne mercury in the country, spew-
proaching. We must rid EPA of ing nearly 50 tons of this deadly poison into the air
the industry officials who now and our local watersheds each year. Several stud-
skulk through the halls and sit ies have shown that as much as 70 percent of these
at the very desks of an agency toxic emissions are ending up in local waterways
that was created to protect the and fish. The pre-Bush EPA concluded that there
environment and public health. was a link between coal-fired power plant mercury
We must put the wretched lack emissions and mercury found in freshwater fish.
of environmental leadership of Yet this EPA steadfastly refuses to properly control
the past seven and a half years these emissions.
behind us and demand that Today, communities across the country are pay-
EPA re-establish its stated mis- ing the price of EPA’s and industry’s irresponsible
sion “to protect human health actions. Mercury fish advisories blanket significant
and the environment” instead of portions of our streams, rivers and lakes with 48
safeguarding the profits of cor- states warning large segments of the population to
porate polluters. And nowhere avoid eating many species of fish because of high
is there a better opportunity mercury levels. For 19 of these states, the warning
for the agency to start to regain is statewide.
its lost integrity and once more EPA was under a legal mandate to force this in-
earn the trust of the American dustry to control these dangerous emissions with
Although a link between coal- people than with the rewriting the best technology available. Proven, affordable
fired power plant mercury of the power plant mercury rules. mercury control systems like sorbent injection have
emissions and mercury found
On Feb. 8, the United States Court of Appeals consistently shown 90% reductions in emissions,
in freshwater fish has been
established, the EPA under for the District of Columbia handed down a scath- yet EPA has jumped through elaborate and illegal
President George W. Bush ing opinion against the Environmental Protection hoops to avoid regulating the industry. With the
refuses to control these Agency, vacating an anemic, industry-scripted Court’s February ruling, EPA is forced to go back
emissions. Clean Air Act mercury non-control scheme. EPA’s to the drawing board and write a mercury control
failed plan would have granted the coal-fired en- rule that truly complies with the law and protects
ergy companies free rein to continue to poison the American people from mercury poisoning.
our waterways and communities with
harmful amounts of mercury for de- You can help make sure this happens by:
cades to come. • Writing the EPA and demanding that they get it
The court’s decision was the lat- right this time; and
est in a long string of courtroom • Calling your elected representatives and asking
defeats for Bush’s rabidly anti-envi- them to carefully monitor EPA’s rewriting of the
ronmental policies. Sadly, as more mercury rule.
and more of EPA’s improper regu-
latory practices come to light, it It’s your government, your EPA. It’s time to take
has become abundantly clear that it back. w