A number of meetings will be held locally over the next two weeks to hear from citizens whose private drinking wells were contaminated by a dangerous chemical.
Residents living near the intersection of Tyler and Central in west Wichita were notified last year that their private drinking wells were contaminated with PCE, or tetrachloroethylene, a likely carcinogen. Officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment traced the contamination back to nearby dry cleaning operations, but were unable to say how long drinking wells had been affected.
Many homes in the neighborhood have since been connected to city water lines, and now two researchers want to hear from residents--specifically those who feel they may be in danger of long-term health effects.
“This is really a preliminary effort for us to get an idea, to hear from the community what their concerns are, what their needs are and to be able to connect them with the resources they need,” says Elizabeth Ablah, a doctor with the KU Medical School in Wichita.
The KU Medical School will team up with Wichita State University to hold four public meetings starting next Monday.
Ablah says a number of state and local environmental and health officials will available for questions.
Meetings will be held:
Monday, Oct. 19, 5:30 p.m., at Wilbur Middle School, 340 North Tyler Road
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 11:00 a.m., at Sedgwick County Extension, 7001 W. 21st St. North
Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m., at Wilbur Middle School
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. at Sedgwick County Extension
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