A few short months ago, most South Valley residents had never
heard of perchlorate. Thanks to the perchlorate plume that
originated at Olin Corp.
’s now-closed road flare factory in Morgan Hill and is now
working its way through South Valley groundwater, that has changed.
Now, most of us can spell and pronounce the term and know that it’s
used in the manufacture of road flares, fireworks, rocket and
missile fuels and air bags. We know th
at ingesting too much perchlorate can cause serious thyroid
problems.
A few short months ago, most South Valley residents had never heard of perchlorate.
Thanks to the perchlorate plume that originated at Olin Corp.’s now-closed road flare factory in Morgan Hill and is now working its way through South Valley groundwater, that has changed. Now, most of us can spell and pronounce the term and know that it’s used in the manufacture of road flares, fireworks, rocket and missile fuels and air bags. We know that ingesting too much perchlorate can cause serious thyroid problems.
But our new knowledge is overshadowed by the vastness of what we don’t yet understand – as the news of recent weeks demonstrates over and over again. Information is paltry about the chemical’s affect on plants irrigated with perchlorate-tainted water, let alone what happens to people who consume those plants. We know precious little about what happens to animals – big, medium or small – that drink perchlorate-tainted water.
We don’t know much about perchlorate’s affect on humans – especially on the various subpopulations, including the elderly, the very young, pregnant women and the chronically ill, who are typically most vulnerable. There’s great debate and divergence of opinion on what perchlorate levels ought to concern us. We don’t know how to clean it up.
That’s why it’s so important that community members avail themselves of opportunities to educate and commiserate. Two such opportunities will occur in the coming days.
A community-wide forum on the perchlorate problem is set for Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at three Gavilan College sites: the student center, the social studies building and a tent near the western parking lot. This forum is an opportunity to hear from panels of experts and learn more about three specific perchlorate-related issues: Olin case investigation and cleanup; health and agriculture; and cleanup techniques. More information is available at www.valleywater.org
The newly formed San Martin Perchlorate Advisory Committee established by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will meet on Thursday, May 8, at 10 a.m. at the San Martin Lion’s Club, 12515 Murphy Ave. This committee is designed to give the community a voice in the perchlorate cleanup process. For more information on the community advisory committee, call Harvey Packard of the state Regional Water Quality Control Board at (805) 542-4639.
These meetings are key opportunities for the South Valley community to come together to learn how best to address the perchlorate problem – something, that, like it or not, we’ll be dealing with for years to come. Pooling our community’s vast resources of creativity, knowledge and caring is our best shot to getting us to a place where perchlorate is just a great Scrabble word instead of a feared pollutant.
As a community, let’s do all we can to speed that day’s arrival.
