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Clean Water Laws Are Neglected, at a Cost to Health « The Global Realm

The New York Times

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.

“How can we get digital cable and Internet in our homes, but not clean water?” said Mrs. Hall-Massey, a senior accountant at one of the state’s largest banks.

She and her husband, Charles, do not live in some remote corner of Appalachia. Charleston, the state capital, is less than 17 miles from her home.

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West Virginia Blue:: Enforcing existing anti-pollution regulations ...

West Virginia and the nation need jobs and coal. Nothing in the debate over mountaintop mining is going to change that in the short term. But, in the long term, as we mine and use a nonrenewable resource and as we develop alternative energy sources, the people that live in the steep, hostile terrain of southern West Virginia need a future, too. The opportunities created by surface mining will be gone if not taken advantage of now. We must have a base upon which to build our future and surface mining provides a key piece that base.

SOURCE: Randy Huffman

The fact is that between 2000 and 2006, one company alone (Massey) managed to violate its clean water permits well over 4,500 times. Perhaps Mr. Huffman should list all the businesses he envisions which will want to locate where the water is so toxic that folks don't dare even touch it for fear of contracting cancer.  And anyone...

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