Homeowners Bring in National Group to help with Contaminated Water in Michigan
Taken From: http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=105419
Fennville (WZZM) – Homeowners in Fennville have contaminated water and they blame a local company. They say the problem originates at the nearby Birds Eye plant.
Birds Eye Foods Contaminating Public Water Supply?
Frank Ramirez lives across the street from the food processing plant. He says he sees and smells a lot, “They use that as a place to discharge their water there’s nothing growing back there.” said Rameriz. He says they would pump the water out and use it to water nearby fields. He showed us the sprinklers Birds Eye uses.
Outside of town, homeowners get their water from ground wells. They blame Birds Eye for their unsafe water. The Department of Enviromental Quality has tested the water and found concentrations of arsenic, iron and manganese. They say the health concerns are uncertain.
“About the time when the water started to get really horrible was about the time they came to knock on our door to start their testing,” says local resident Kari Craton.
Craton had several wells dug and they all were contaminated. Now she uses bottled water for drinking and cooking. “I know there’s fifty plus homes that receive the bottled water which Birds Eye supplies,” says Craton
Not satisfied with the answers she received from the company Craton called on activist Erin Bockovich for help. That’s the same Erin Brockovich that Julia Roberts portrayed in a Hollywood movie.
Brockovich took an interest in the matter and sent in a member of her team to help.
Robert Bowcock deals with water contamination issues.
“We go out and conduct those types of investigations and try to get the people the answers that they’re looking for,” says Bowcock.
