Posted by CAFEmporia (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 12:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I discovered this while cruising around looking at environmental news. It strikes me as outrageous to think that Emporia will not only dismiss any request regarding testing of water for pharmaceuticals, Ron Rhoades has the gall to flippantly laugh it off.

I think it should not be difficult to increase the demands for information and, if not, we should demand that our local government take the issue of clean water more seriously.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23504373/

CAF

Posted by create (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's do it. Let's make those demands. I plan to call and ask why we're not testing. In an interview I saw on the news yesterday, one expert said ratios were akin to putting an aspirin into a river. If that is considered to be safe, then why are fish who regularly swim near sewage runoff areas found with higher than normal levels of estrogen in their systems?

I'm glad you brought this up, CAF. I always understood that our water quality here in Emporia was particularly high. We need to keep it that way.

Posted by CAFEmporia (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would guess the Gazette will be quick to look into this matter, too, and that is the proper place for such things to happen. If we don't see anything happening, it becomes incumbent upon us to raise the questions ourselves.

Let's note, too, that the most outrageous aspect of the article as it applies to Emporia is the response of Ron Rhoades to questions. It was as if he were treating serious questions of water contamination in a manner that is hardly how we want such questions treated. If, as is likely now, a further investigation into water quality here is launched, it needs to be handled by someone else, someone who will take it seriously. Confidence in the managers of our infrastructure is necessary to good governance.

Meanwhile, we should wait until there is more information to draw any conclusion. It may be that we have the safest water supply around, as has been reported to us for some years. Let's hope so, but let's also make sure the tests are done by an objective entity and that the results are made public.

Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CAFEmporia

While I think it would be good and responsible for the Gazette to give this some play, I doubt that it will happen. I tend to think that the Gazette's view of the public is about the same as Mr. Rhodes. It's hard for me to believe that a public servant could be that arrogant, but I guess I'm naive.

Posted by create (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's on the front page now, net.

Posted by CAFEmporia (anonymous) on March 11, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

netloafer, i think that calling you naive would, itself, be naive, but you make your point again.

I agree that Rhoades' statements were less than considered and do indicate a potential problem. Zimmerman's answers were polite and a bit more explicit, but amounted to nothing more. The bottom line is, nobody is planning to do anything more than say, "if the federal government" is concerned, then they will ask for more testing. We should keep in mind that this administration has adjusted tolerable mercury contamination in water upwards, a development that is alarming.

For now, I think the conversation will shift to today's news story, but I'll follow it here, too.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I know I said I would never visit or post on a gazette forum again, but this and past stories about the water quality of Emporias' water riles me to know end.
I used to work at the water treatment plant and can tell you all stories about it that would curl your hair.
And thats all I am saying about it !

Posted by gabby (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:51 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by gabby (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:06 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ewww! meth if you havent watched the movie erin brochovich (sp), its about about someone who uncovered a water quality scandel. at times over the years the water here tastes a little odd, sometimes it seems to leave a taste in my mouth, so we usually drink milk juice or pop

Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on March 13, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Because I know some will claim a conspiracy, let me say that the posts were removed because they were personal attacks and potentially libelous. Before removing them, however, I printed the thread to give our staff allegations to investigate.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to contact me.

Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
larson@emporiagazette.com

Posted by gabby (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thank you Gwen.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In case anyone is interested there is news article on msnbc news web site titled " more testing needed on drugs in tap water. "
If you are interested in reading it go to www.msnbc.com and click on the (more testing needed on drugs in tap water).