Fluoridation testing questioned
B ecky G illette Just a few days before a major break in a water main on Main St. on August 9, Eureka Springs Public Works Director Dwayne Allen sent an email answering council member requests for information on city water testing since water fluoridation began July 15 that said, “Eureka Springs has, unfortunately, become a test lab for the effects of fluoride on century-old water mains.” Long-time fluoridation opponent Crystal Harvey of Hot Springs wonders if it is just a coincidence that the city had a big water main break soon after fluoridation began at the Carroll Boone Water District (CBWD). Harvey said fluoridation chemicals are very corrosive, and old water pipes have the potential to leach out significant amounts of lead into the drinking water, which resulted in thousands of children being poisoned by lead in Washington D.C. “I spoke frequently to the late Jim Allison when he was manager of the CBWD,” Harvey said. “He was very concerned about how corrosive fluoridation chemicals are. He told me the contract between CBWD and the City of Eureka Springs states that CBWD will not add any chemicals to the water that will increase corrosiveness.”
The city’s memorandum of agreement with CBWD states, “The District shall produce a treated water which will neither corrode nor scale the transmission line or distribution systems of the user Cities under the normal range
of domestic operating conditions.” “Of course, it is impossible to know for sure what caused the pipe to fail. The failure occurred at a fitting,” Public Works Director Dwayne Allen said. “When we exposed the area, an eight-inch cast iron
pipe had split seven feet along its edge. Most heat-related iron pipe failures are caused by ground shifts and the pipe will split around the circumference of the pipe, which is a pipe break. This was a FLUORIDATION continued on page 4
Water we doing here? – A break in the water main at 120 N. Main on August 9 left some folks without water and the rest of the city with very low pressure. A precautionary boil order was issued, and, although the leak has been repaired, city water can’t officially be declared safe until samples from two days have returned from state testing labs (perhaps Wednesday). Inset shows the culprit responsible for the waterfall – a split in an 8-in. water line (near bottom of pic). Photos courtesy of Butch Berry
This Week’s INDEPENDENT Thinkers We understand the importance of keeping pure dog bloodlines in order to maintain the best in brains, temperament, intelligence and sociability. That’s why we have reputable breeders. We have never understood puppy mills that emphasize profit over animal welfare. Congratulations to The Grand Canyon State, Arizona, for passing the supremely humane law requiring that all dogs sold in pet stores come only from shelters or non-profit rescues. Maybe the days of perpetual pregnancy, cramped cages and overcrowding in general are going bye-bye, and those who want a licking, romping, loyal confidante will be able to rescue a glad-to-see-you-no-matter-how-nuts-you-are canine whose picture will become your screensaver.
Inside the ESI Accident 2 Council-Water Main 3 New Supe 4 Council-Budget Talks 5 Restaurants and clean water; Council-Public Works 6 HDC; Council-Wrap up 7 School testing 8 Constables on Patrol 10 Independent Lens 12-13 Astrology 16 Indy Soul 18 Crossword 21 Classifieds 22
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