A SW Missouri River Rich In E. Coli Provokes Residents' Indifference

Many citizens appear to be pessimistic over what will be done to protect their children or grandchildren from the devastation that will be caused by lack of potable water. And not until Southwest Missouri becomes a desert, they say, will the government step in to deal with water issues, like it had to do in Pitcher, OK because of that area's lead and mercury contamination. But these same people in the mainly Republican communities that comprise the Jasper County watershed refuse to do anything to stop officials from making decisions in support of economic interests over public health.

This sense of apathy by the community was shown Wednesday night when only a spinkling of residents attended a public forum organized by members of the Carthage High School Stream Team and their mentors. They met last night in the Carthage High School Auditorium to announce the results of their two-year study conducting water sampling of the Spring River. And their results were not good. In fact, the team was so alarmed over the spikes in levels of E. coli bacteria that they found in several test sites around Carthage that they plan to post signs at popular swimming areas regarding the risk of full body contact with the water.

R-9 substitute teacher Frank Martinez who specializes in biology and one of four adult sponsors said the team used the same testing methods as the EPA, a relatively new procedure that provided, what he called, "simple to read, good data" available within 24-hours of sampling. E. coli, as well as fecal coliform are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Disease-causing microbes (pathogens) in these wastes may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems. Symptoms for adults include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and headaches.

"Kansas and Oklahoma should be concerned over what's coming their way," was Wayne Christian's warning. A physics teacher and team mentor, Christian lamented over what has become of the Spring River and said that today he wouldn't be happy over eating fish caught in its waters. In mentioning "chronic diarrhea," Christian told the audience, that from a community health standpoint, he would "hate to think it was part of their natural life." "The river should be declared unusable," he enunciated.

EDIT

http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/mariwinn1144361044

I grew up along Spring River, and always pay homage when I go home to visit.

In the past, you could say that people didn't know any better.

Now you can only say that people don't know or care about anything (as long as they have their SUV and TV).