To the editor:
On June 6, The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) passed the motion to make their high standards that monitor and regulate the water quality from the Ohio River, voluntary among member states.
These member states consist of: Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Not only does their decision go against (the) majority of the people who spoke out at the hearing, including myself, but proves money in their pocket is more valuable than the health and lives of the approximate 5 million people that rely on the Ohio River as their source of water.
I am more than disappointed, rather torn between disgusted and heartbroken at the mere fact clean drinking water for all is a subject brought upon discussion and the decision by the ORSANCO commissioners that will now jeopardize water quality put me in shock.
We are in the middle of an environmental war, and it was a sad day coming to the realization that we are fighting them for this basic need rather than them fighting with us to protect it.
ORSANCO can claim to be for the people, by the people, all they want but by denying our needs they have proven which side they truly belong to in this battle.
Our future will be second priority under oil and gas companies no longer.
Our future will be dictated by the selfish decisions of others no longer.
Our voice will be silenced no longer.
They may have money but without us they have no power. If they will not listen to us by choice, we will force them to hear our voice.
Call, write, and/or meet with these ORSANCO commissioners every day. Join local grassroot organizations that are also pleading for a different path, including KFTC, who on June 21, is hosting an event at the Purple People Bridge concerning water scarcity.
There is no greater asset than the unification of people fighting for a greater good. Passion unlocks limitless strength.
Maria Truitt
Union, Ky
