Posted on May 7, 2023
‘A systemic failure of communication’: Elected leaders call for legislation in wake of health...
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City, county and state elected officials condemned the state’s communication surrounding a contaminated site northeast of downtown Wichita and called for improvement going forward.
State, county and local officials are calling for legislation to improve communications around toxic sites, following the release of a study that showed disparate health outcomes among people living above contaminated groundwater in Wichita.
The source of the contamination is the Union Pacific railyard at 29th and Grove, which has a chemical in its soil and groundwater known as trichloroethene. The chemical has infiltrated a 2.9-mile long plume of groundwater south of the rail yard site, through several of Wichita's historically Black neighborhoods.
State, county and local officials are calling for legislation to improve communications around toxic sites, following the release of a study that showed disparate health outcomes among people living above contaminated groundwater in Wichita.
The source of the contamination is the Union Pacific railyard at 29th and Grove, which has a chemical in its soil and groundwater known as trichloroethene. The chemical has infiltrated a 2.9-mile long plume of groundwater south of the rail yard site, through several of Wichita's historically Black neighborhoods.
‘A systemic failure of communication’: Elected leaders call for legislation in wake of health...
Posted from kcur.org
Wichita
Health
Water
Chemicals
Hazmat
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“That has nothing to do with contaminated water,” Williams said. "...The social determinants of health had nothing to with this other than the possibility of not having insurance, not being able to go to a doctor."
Local officials said that they would seek funding to bring in resources like cancer screenings to the affected neighborhoods.
Community members who attended the meeting continued to express concern over the long period of time it took to share information, as well as the potential health impacts.
Rose Harris lives in the neighborhood south of 29th and Grove. She said her daughter had to have a liver transplant years ago, which cost thousands of dollars.
Her neighbor, Hazel Carlis, said she used to fish at the lake just north of the contaminated site.
Leaders said that more information and resources would be forthcoming. But Johnson stressed that anyone who has a groundwater well in the plume should avoid using it.
“Anybody who is using well water on their lawns, although the scientists have indicated in our reports that it's safe, I am saying you should not do that,” Johnson said. “I know it costs more to use city water. Our city water's clean. … Please switch to city water.”"
..."“That has nothing to do with contaminated water,” Williams said. "...The social determinants of health had nothing to with this other than the possibility of not having insurance, not being able to go to a doctor."
Local officials said that they would seek funding to bring in resources like cancer screenings to the affected neighborhoods.
Community members who attended the meeting continued to express concern over the long period of time it took to share information, as well as the potential health impacts.
Rose Harris lives in the neighborhood south of 29th and Grove. She said her daughter had to have a liver transplant years ago, which cost thousands of dollars.
Her neighbor, Hazel Carlis, said she used to fish at the lake just north of the contaminated site.
Leaders said that more information and resources would be forthcoming. But Johnson stressed that anyone who has a groundwater well in the plume should avoid using it.
“Anybody who is using well water on their lawns, although the scientists have indicated in our reports that it's safe, I am saying you should not do that,” Johnson said. “I know it costs more to use city water. Our city water's clean. … Please switch to city water.”"
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Another environmental super site that will take years to clean up.
As for the affected neighborhoods, that sucks but so does Wichita. Leave...
As for the affected neighborhoods, that sucks but so does Wichita. Leave...
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