ANNISTON, Ala. -- Concerns of leaks
and other potential pollution led to a public meeting in Anniston Monday night.Chemicals
used by the military threaten the coldwater spring, which serves as the city's
water supply.
Anniston's water supply is considered safe. Contaminations are below federal standards. But the levels of the contaminant trichlorethylene are fluctuating so a meeting was held to discuss the problem and what's being done about it.
At Mata's Greek Pizza and Grinders in Anniston
hundreds of glasses of water are served to customers each day. News of possible
pollution in the city's water supply stunned owners and made them uneasy."Just
the fact they're concerned would make me feel like there's something to worry
about," said Mata's owner Rick Burke.
Anniston Army Depot spokesman Patrick Smith
confirmed that fear."Based on previous disposal practices, we know there's
contamination, and that contamination is moving toward the coldwater spring,"
he said.
That spring provides water for all of Anniston
and surrounding communities, which led Army Depot leaders and state environmental
experts to discuss the threat of trichlorethylene with 50 concerned residents
Monday night.
"There's levels of trichlorethylene in the
spring, but it's below minimum standards, but we want to be proactive," Smith
said.
Officials say plans to deal with increased
contaminant levels are ready."The Army has funded $1.6 million for that treatment,"
Smith said.
Mata's owners said that's good news."Being
proactive and on top of it before it happens is the way you should do something,"
Burke said.
The Anniston Army Depot still uses trichlorethylene to remove grease from metal in guns and tanks, but disposes of it safely to prevent any future pollution to the city's water supply.