Inaction is unacceptable after tests show E. coli in Cahokia Heights water, soil
This open letter is an outcry on behalf of the citizens who are fighting for environmental equity, especially for our area that involuntarily experiences multiple environmental injustices silently for way too long!
It is extremely disheartening to both hear and see the mischaracterization of the residents affected due to inhumane, unsafe water contamination that is being publicly labeled as “erroneous.” For decades, area residents have voiced concerns over and complaints of their ongoing problems with water quality. The seriousness of the issue was downplayed, dismissed, and ignored, as evidenced by the lack of actions from elected local politicians and companies that did absolutely nothing (investigate nor research) for years.
There is a longstanding record of citizens’ continuous complaints about water, like various discolorations (e.g. brown, black, and not clear), foul odors, low water pressure, texture, water main line breaks, and sewage line breaks without boil orders issued until recently). In pursuit of water environmental equity, we the people of Centreville Citizens for Change; Equity Legal Services; Flint, Michigan, water scientist expert; and other major organizations genuinely concerned about water quality took action. We conducted professional, scientifically-sound water testing research for seven months, adhering to research policies and sterile procedure guidelines at all times. The results are as follows: insufficient, below normal chlorine levels; contaminants of positive E. coli; and other harmful bacteria. The validity of the water testing research results confirmed our beliefs that the culprit is, in fact, our water. Likewise, recent research findings by Washington University confirm E. coli contamination in our soil, which aligns with tests on pets’ paws revealing the presence of E. coli.
Contaminated water and soil are no longer options for our community. Enough is enough. We are not animals in a slaughter compound awaiting death. We are human beings with basic living rights. We demand, we deserve, and we expect better!
Our area is too small to have such a large percentage of residents testing positive for H. pylori, which was higher than the Detroit, Michigan, residents’ results with their major water problems. Our residents who tested positive for H. pylori required medical treatment, and for some, in-patient hospitalizations. The symptoms many of us experienced were severe gut-wrenching gastrointestinal problems, painful stomach cramps, nausea, intense vomiting that led to dehydration, constant diarrhea, loss of appetite with weight loss, extreme weakness, development of stomach ulcers, fevers, frequent respiratory tract infections, and a few heart attacks. These are 100% undisputed facts of the symptoms that affected residents experienced with some becoming infected repeatedly because we trusted the area-wide Illinois American Water (IAW) statements of our area water being safe. It was only after Centreville Citizens for Change and Equity Legal Services held IAW accountable that the company even began extensive chlorine flushing in our water system. In other words, we wanted to believe they cared, but the writing was in the water.
Furthermore, it wasn’t until Centreville Citizens for Change’s public exposures of Centreville’s major sewage, flooding, and water problems that national awareness occurred and resulted in infrastructure funding to our community. Thank God for Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s “boots on the ground” tour and continuous engagement with our community that helped shift the atmosphere for addressing improvements in our neighborhoods. Her visit inspired other local state politicians to become aware and more visibly involved with our community’s long-neglected, unaddressed water problems.
Moving forward, we encourage everyone not to be in such a rush to be judgmental to the point of being a hindrance to helping improve water quality for residents. Working together collaboratively, we can create powerful, lasting imprints on our community.
We at Centreville Citizens for Change genuinely thank the community for supporting us with unveiling the truth of what is going on with our water and its impact on residents. We extend a special thanks to all of our water testing research participants, residents, and team members. Our sincerest gratitude goes to Equity Legal Services for their years of advocacy, all of our USA supportive collaborative partners, the Sierra Club, and the NAACP and NPHC for stepping up to answer the call to help by supplying water donations.
From Yvette Lyles, president of Centreville Citizens for Change, on behalf of the resident group