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Asbestos Laden Pipes Contaminate Drinking Water in Richland, Georgia

Catherine A. Murphy

In a report submitted by Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the asbestos levels in drinking water are 3,000 times more than what is considered safe for human consumption. Due to water pipes made of cement and asbestos, the fiber flakes inside the pipe are contributing towards this rising level of asbestos in the drinking water.

It has been learned that the state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had noted the dangers of asbestos in water and warned the town about it 5 years ago. However, at that time, the contamination level was only 7 times the safety limits while, 10 years ago, when the same pipes were tested, it was declared that they posed no risk to human life.

But now the situation is completely reverse as the decade old pipes are beginning to crumble and matters are taking a turn for worse, the town Mayor, Mayor Adolph McLendon comments.

The article by Atlanta Journal-Constitution states that “Asbestos-and-cement pipe was the most common kind of water pipe installed across the nation during the 1950s and 1960s. The pipe poses no health threat as long as it’s maintained. But in Richland’s case, the area’s naturally acidic water scours the inside of the pipes, causing asbestos fibers to break loose”.

This rising level of asbestos in drinking water was discovered when pieces of asbestos starting flaking off and clogged the meters and filters that lead to an in-depth investigation of the matter. The article further adds that up to 300 other Georgia communities may be facing the same trouble.

Mayor McLendon applied for a grant of half a million dollars for the replacement of the affected pipes, a few years ago. However, his request was denied on the basis that replacing the pipes with tax money or by raising the water taxes is unthinkable for Richland, being the town in state. It is ironic that in Richland while one fourth of its 1,700 citizens are poor, most of the people live on Social Security payments or government welfare. The average income per house in Richland is below $25,000 a year.

However, it is the responsibility of the government to take appropriate actions to stop the asbestos contamination level from rising and prevent its consumption to save people from the deadly consequences of asbestos.

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