PROTECTION OF THE CHICOT AQUIFER

One Lafayette  researcher with a PhD who works for the federal government was amazed to learn  the size and importance of our  Chicot aquifer. He was  more amazed and irritated when  he heard  of threats to this huge body of geologic water  from toxic waste sites near the proposed I-49 connector. Mindful of his own health, his wife and children, the researcher expressed dismay over the fact there is  no certainty over protecting the aquifer flowing  from statements of  any official in LA.

The governor of Michigan, together with several elected officials from Flint, Michigan are discovering their political future is in doubt. Bottled water was quietly brought into government office buildings with the governor’s full   awareness of the preferential treatment. Citizens were served lead-laden water from the Flint river. The damage to the health of Flint residents from tainted water is irreversible. Officials knew of the danger in drawing water from the Flint river. Lawsuits are certain to ensue. Certain officials will be removed from office now that higher authorities, including the FBI have joined the investigation. Are Lafayette officials following the Flint drama?

Awareness of the health threats from the Flint river  dates back over one year, yet the  ordinary citizens had little choice in their water supply. People with limited means(predominantly minority population)  cannot afford bottled water that is over 500 times more expensive than tap water.

Lafayette City Council members and concerned citizens manifested their concern/opposition to Governor Jyndal’s 2008 mandatory fluoridation law by inviting St. Lawrence University  chemistry Dr. Paul Connett, PhD to explain fluoride is an industrial toxic waste that comes in bags marked with skull & bones and “TOXIC.” Lafayette City Council members quickly  voted (8-1) in April 2009 to reject the 2008 fluoridation legislation. How will  2016 council members  view I-49 passing through the city? Awareness of toxic waste sites is spreading. Existence of three toxic waste sites over our Chicot aquifer is more apparent than   toxicity contained in bags of “fluoride.”

Will Lafayette city officials exhibit the same courage they  mustered  in 2009 by expressing opposition to a proposed  road that clearly  threatens a water supply that was pure in an age of dinosaurs eons ago?

Kurt Vonnegutt describes homo sapiens as “large-brained, two-legged creatures”. Children learn dinosaur’s brains are  the size of a walnut. Homo sapiens does not faithfully  imply “thinking beings.” The Vermillion is a risky health  option if our aquifer is ever tainted.

                                 Vic Hummert, retired Lafayette  jail chaplain