September 28, 2006

Stained clothing and dirty drinking water are just two things some folks in Harlem are having to live with...and they say they can't turn to the city or to the county for help.

Even worse, they fear their family's health may be at risk.

Tonight, News 12 is On Your Side with how the condition of Harlem's drinking water is affecting those who have to live there.

April Pierce's water just doesn't look right.

"Terrible tasting water, and it looks so you bad you wouldn't want to drink it," she told News 12.

The Harlem woman just moved into the home, but already, there's a problem with the pipes.

Her bathroom sink fills up with filmy looking water, and she's scared to sip it.

"It looks like a bathtub full of iced tea, instead of water that you want to bathe your family in or take a shower in yourself," she said.

Down the road, we found Lottie Maxwell eyeing brown stains in her washing machine.

"We've had to throw away a lot of clothes and dishes because the water turned it brown," she said.

Both women blame the ground where they've had to dig wells. They say it's not ideal.

And because they're not within Harlem's city limits or serviced by the county, they're on their own...even after having spent nearly $4000 to pump.

"Short end of the stick," Lottie said.

"I want to know, what do we need to do?" April asked. "We need the county water also."

It's a plea for pipes that won't harm their family's health or stain anymore of their sinks.

Both women will confront commissioners about this.

The next meeting is October 3. That's next Tuesday night at 6 o'clock. Anyone with similar problems is encouraged to attend.

Also, if you have dirty water, Columbia County will test it for you for a small fee. They'll run the minerals, just to make sure it's safe.

Columbia Co. Commission Meeting
Tuesday, October 3, 6 p.m.
630 Ronald Reagan Drive
Building B, Government Complex
Evans, GA