Georgia Town Facing Water Contamination Crisis
William Gallahue
June 14, 2007
Richland, Georgia — One of Georgia’s poorest towns is facing the biggest water contamination problem in state history. Richland, a once bustling railroad hub south of Columbus is now one of Georgia’s poorest communities with nearly 25 percent of its 1,700 residents living in poverty.
The contamination is from asbestos found in the town's water pipes. In the 1950s and 1960s cement and asbestos mixtures were commonly used to strengthen water pipes and gnerally pose no health risk if properly maintained. However Richlands’s naturally acidic water scours the pipes causing asbestos fibers to flake into the water.
In 1997 workers with the state’s Environmental Protection Division tested the water supply after asbestos fibers began clogging water filters and meters. The initial tests indicated the presence of asbestos but that it posed no forseeable harm.
Nearly 300 water systems in Georgia may contain asbestos laden pipes but records are not kept and the state does not require regular testing for asbestos in water supplies.
After the initial testing community officials applied for funding to replace the pipes but their request was denied.
Since then the pipes have begun to crumble and when another round of testing was conducted in 2002 the results showed the concentration of asbestos exceeded seven times the safe limit for drinking water.
As the pipes continue to crumble the contamination proceeded to worsen. In a December 2003 test, results showed asbestos levels were 3,132 times the EPA's standards for safe drinking water. The author of the report noted it was “a level never seen before.”
A sample taken in February showed contamination at 5.1 billion fibers per liter nearly 728 times the maximum EPA level. Despite these results, mayor Adolph Mclendon says the state has ignored his pleas during the 24 years as mayor.
Asbestos is a carcinogen if inhaled but little is known about the effects of ingesting asbestos fibers because asbestos induced diseases take years to manifest. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry notes that some communities with asbestos contaminated drinking water have higher than average death rates from cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
Half of the towns budget goes towards maintaining the water system and they cannot afford to replace the pipes by raising taxes or water rates because residents are mostly elderly or low income.
While some of the town’s residents avoid drinking the water, only 2 public notices have appeared (in 2002 and 2005) along with minor disclaimers in town water bills. Not everyone is fully aware of the problem as residents continue to drink from the tap.
According to the American Water Works Association, around 15 percent of water pipes in the United States contain asbestos.
Recently funding has been approved to replace the estimated 2 miles of asbestos lined pipe still used in Richland but the lasting effects of the contamination may not be known for years to come.
EPA Factsheet regarding asbestos. Includes water contamination section.
Site talking about symptoms of asbestos conditions
The contamination is from asbestos found in the town's water pipes. In the 1950s and 1960s cement and asbestos mixtures were commonly used to strengthen water pipes and gnerally pose no health risk if properly maintained. However Richlands’s naturally acidic water scours the pipes causing asbestos fibers to flake into the water.
In 1997 workers with the state’s Environmental Protection Division tested the water supply after asbestos fibers began clogging water filters and meters. The initial tests indicated the presence of asbestos but that it posed no forseeable harm.
Nearly 300 water systems in Georgia may contain asbestos laden pipes but records are not kept and the state does not require regular testing for asbestos in water supplies.
After the initial testing community officials applied for funding to replace the pipes but their request was denied.
Since then the pipes have begun to crumble and when another round of testing was conducted in 2002 the results showed the concentration of asbestos exceeded seven times the safe limit for drinking water.
As the pipes continue to crumble the contamination proceeded to worsen. In a December 2003 test, results showed asbestos levels were 3,132 times the EPA's standards for safe drinking water. The author of the report noted it was “a level never seen before.”
A sample taken in February showed contamination at 5.1 billion fibers per liter nearly 728 times the maximum EPA level. Despite these results, mayor Adolph Mclendon says the state has ignored his pleas during the 24 years as mayor.
Asbestos is a carcinogen if inhaled but little is known about the effects of ingesting asbestos fibers because asbestos induced diseases take years to manifest. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry notes that some communities with asbestos contaminated drinking water have higher than average death rates from cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
Half of the towns budget goes towards maintaining the water system and they cannot afford to replace the pipes by raising taxes or water rates because residents are mostly elderly or low income.
While some of the town’s residents avoid drinking the water, only 2 public notices have appeared (in 2002 and 2005) along with minor disclaimers in town water bills. Not everyone is fully aware of the problem as residents continue to drink from the tap.
According to the American Water Works Association, around 15 percent of water pipes in the United States contain asbestos.
Recently funding has been approved to replace the estimated 2 miles of asbestos lined pipe still used in Richland but the lasting effects of the contamination may not be known for years to come.
EPA Factsheet regarding asbestos. Includes water contamination section.
Site talking about symptoms of asbestos conditions
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