Henderson and Kerr Lake Area Concerned Citizens are meeting on Monday, February 9th, 2015 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Perry Memorial Library in Henderson in response to an alarming announcement that Henderson residents recently received with their water bills.
“NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:” “IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER. Henderson – Kerr Lake Regional Water System Has Levels of Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Above Drinking Water Standards. You may download a full copy of the letter here: 20150105_henderson_water.pdf
The regional system serves portions of Vance, Granville, Warren, and Franklin Counties as well as the city of Henderson, and the town of Oxford, Kittrell, Norlina, Warrenton, Stovall, and Middleburg.
The purpose of the meeting is for regional stakeholders who draw water from Kerr Lake Reservoir and Gaston Lake to become informed, to discuss crucial water quality issues, and to make collective plans to protect our water quality. The TTHMs Notice was issued and signed by Water System Owner/Operator Christy Lipscomb, and we appreciate that she has agreed to share what she knows about the TTHMs situation at the meeting.
Toxic TTHMs are created in the water treatment process when organic compounds in water supplies mix with chlorine. It is not surprising to find excessive TTHM levels since the region’s water supply has been severely compromised by the state and the EPA decision to let Duke Energy abort a comprehensive vacuum coal ash cleanup of the Dan River, leaving most of the original estimated 39,000 – 82,000 tons of toxic coal ash to sink to the bottom of the Dan River and to flow into Kerr Lake.
Although the Notice says there is no emergency, it also warns of the known dangers from long-term exposure, the affect on liver, kidneys, the central nervous system, and the increased the risk of cancer.
While the Notice states, “There is nothing you need do, it also states, “If you have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers about drinking this water.”
Public awareness of the TTHMs threat is so important that the end of the Notice states: “Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly, (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.”
We have a right to clean water, and a responsibility to protect it for our children, our communities, and for future generations. Please join concerned citizens on February 9th 2015 at the Henderson Library!
For some compelling information, read: “Water Treatment Contaminants” by the Environmental Working Group at: http://www.ewg.org/research/water-treatment-contaminants
For More Information Contact: Deborah Ferruccio (252-257-2604 or Leslie James (252-431-1022)