Dear Readers,
The People’s Tribune hosts discussions on the water crisis facing so many of our communities across the country so people can share their experiences and strategize. Here is the story of the fight for clean affordable water in Will County, Illinois, a former steel and manufacturing hub by Suzanna Ibarra. Please email info@peoplestribune.org if you have a story to share. — The Editors
“We’re running out of water here in Will County where I live… it’s estimated in the next 10 years, the aquifer will be completely dried up. There’s literally nobody I know here that drinks the water…the issue is just so huge…. In University Park, after more than a year and a half of detecting high levels of lead…and trucking in bottled water… people still don’t have clean water. The mayor turns her head. It’s also an area that has a very high number of minorities. The other issue is they’re trying to privatize water in an area of Joliet… [but residents] managed to not have it privatized by the same company that was poisoning the people at University Park . . . it’s going to cost between $33 million to $3 billion, which [will] triple water costs in Joliet.
“When I was running for city council two years ago, water — to be able to have clean water — was a passion of mine. … When I talked about the issues [in University Park], water being one, people said, ‘Let me show you.’ I have pictures of them filling up a jug to show me that their water was literally brown. [They said] they complained and complained…[but it] fell on deaf ears. The company Aqua … [switched the water over knowing] they were poisoning the water. It’s the same company that tried to privatize water in Fairmont, which is the poorest area economically. Those residents fought it. They had an environmental commission that did studies [but] the decks were stacked. [Also, when they change] the main pipes in the streets…there’s a risk of having those [old] pipes interfere with the pipes they’re laying and residents once again, [can] be poisoned, even more.
“Honestly [in Joliet] we need to find someone qualified who we can get ready to run against the mayor. I think our best chance to have clean water in Joliet is to replace the mayor.”
