Letter to Editor: Urge PWC Supervisors to OK drinking water study before vote on land use changes

To the Editor:

At its meeting August 2, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) will be presented with a resolution to accept the written offer of the Fairfax Water Authority General Manager to use its scientific board and lab resources to study the impacts of three major land use proposals currently in review: Comp Plan Amendments “Pathway to 2040,” “PW Digital Gateway” and the “Data Center Overlay District Expansion.”  Please urge your BOCS representative to authorize the drinking water study before they vote on these major land use changes.

Performing this holistic water study before their decision on the proposals will ensure that there will be no harm to your drinking water supply and help reach County sustainability goals.

Sadly, there is an example of a government that got it wrong.  Beginning in 2014, the people of Flint, Michigan were terribly harmed when it was learned that their drinking water was toxic.
 
Government at the local level failed to take its responsibility to maintain drinking water safety.  This resulted in severe health impacts to the citizens who trusted their public servants to oversee the delivery of safe drinking water. The Flint. Michigan government failed in its most basic responsibility to protect the public water supply.

Our Occoquan Watershed and Reservoir provides drinking water for 800,000 people, including those in Prince William County’s east end. On or before August 2, please urge your Supervisor to authorize the drinking water study BEFORE they make decisions on these proposed land use changes. Thank you.

Stephanie Chartrand
6598 Alderwood Way
Gainesville, 20155
Gainesville resident for 37 years