EPA targets Asheboro pollution
ARE INCHING UP. WE COULD BE IN
THE ONE TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN
RANGE. OKAY. THANKS, KAT.
>> HEATED DEBATE OVER TOXIC
CHEMICALS IN NORTH CAROLINA'S
WATER AND WHETHER THE STATE IS
DOING ENOUGH TO STOP IT.
WRAL'S CLIMATE CHANGE. REPORTER
LIZ MCLAUGHLIN SHOWS US HOW
THAT COULD IMPACT THE DRINKING
WATER FOR MORE THAN A MILLION
NORTH CAROLINIANS
>> THE EPA IS STEPPING IN AFTER
NORTH CAROLINA DROPPED LIMITS
ON 1, 4, DIOXANE A TOXIC
CHEMICAL LINKED TO CANCER FOUND
IN WASTEWATER FROM ASHBORO
TREATMENT PLANT THIS WEEK THE
AGENCY HELD A PUBLIC HEARING
TO DECIDE WHETHER TO LET THE
STATE HANDLE IT OR TAKE OVER
THE
PERMIT ITSELF.
>> TOXIC CHEMICALS DUMPED INTO
NORTH CAROLINA'S WATERWAYS ARE
SPARKING DEBATE OVER POLLUTION
IN POWER. BANKS PECK THE WATER
COMING OUT OF MY TAP TO BE SAFE
TO DRINK RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT
FEDERAL REGULATORS HEARD
PASSIONATE TESTIMONY AT A
HEARING IN ASHBORO WEDNESDAY
AS RESIDENTS DEMANDED ACTION
AGE ALL STAND UP FOR IS THE
LOCAL SYSTEM.
>> IS NOT RESPECTING OUR
AMERICAN RIGHTS. HOLD STRONG.
>> FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD FILTRATION SYSTEMS.
CLEAN WATER ISN'T A LUXURY AND
IT IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.
>> THE CHEMICAL AT THE CENTER
OF THE CONTROVERSY, 1, 4,
DIOXANE IS A TOXIC
CANCER-CAUSING COMPOUND THAT
ISN'T REMOVED BY STANDARD
FILTRATION SYSTEMS. IT'S BEEN
DETECTED IN WASTEWATER FROM
ASHBORO AT LEVELS 10,000 TIMES
HIGHER THAN THE EPA IS CANCER
RISK BENCHMARK. THIS CHEMICAL
IS COMING FROM THEIR OWN
INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS AND
THEY CAN. THEY CAN MAKE THEIR
OWN INDUSTRIES TREAT FOR THE
CHEMICAL BEFORE IT EVER GETS
TO. THERE.
>> SEWAGE AND WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT THAT
CONTAMINATION FLOWS DOWNSTREAM
IMPACTING DRINKING WATER FOR
COMMUNITIES FROM PITTSBORO TO
FAYETTEVILLE TO WILMINGTON,
EVEN TOWNS LIKE FUQUAY-VARINA
HOLLY SPRINGS IN PARTS OF
HARNETT COUNTY, THAT BY WATER
FROM SANFORD ALTOGETHER,
SERVING MORE THAN A MILLION
NORTH CAROLINIANS, SOMEBODY IS
PAYING FOR DISCUSSION. YOU
KNOW, IF IT'S NOT.
>> THESE INDUSTRIES THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE
PAYING FOR THIS COMMISSION, AS
ARE THE PEOPLE LIVING
DOWNSTREAM DEQ SAYS IT'S
APPEALING THE DECISION AND
AGREES LIMITS ARE NEEDED TO
PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. THE CITY
OF ASHBORO WOULDN'T ANSWER
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE OF
AN ONGOING LAWSUIT.
>> BUT SAYS IT'S FOLLOWING ITS
CURRENT PERMIT AND WILL FOLLOW