Residents of Talladega, Alabama were warned in July 2003 that a local water well is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene, a toxic substance also known as
PCE. The Grant Street well, which was immediately closed, was found to exceed PCE's standard maximum contaminant level (MCL) of .005 mg/l. According to the Talladega Water and Sewer Board, the average level of PCE since 2002 was .007 mg/l. Exposure to PCE over extended periods can cause
liver and
kidney damage, as well as
cancer. Residents have filed a class action lawsuit against the city of Talladega, the Talladega Water and Sewer Board and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) over the contamination.
According to the suit, the Grant Street well was closed in 1995 because of contamination reasons but opened again in 1998. ADEM officials say they believed the well was closed when they came for inspections over the last three years. The ADEM believes the well has been contaminated with PCE since the late 1980s.
See your doctor if you live in Talladega and you have experienced serious health problems. In addition, it may be important to
contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be
time limits within which you must commence suit.
See Also
- Specific Contaminated Sites
- Cancer
- Kidney & Urinary Tract Disorders
- Liver Problems