Art Helps Get the Water Tested and Retested
July 20, 2010
My pleas to get the water in Father Hennepin Park tested as stated in this post of July 12th had been heard. It just took another plea to another government office to find that out two and half months later. Last week I sent out another email plea, that included my photos documenting the toxins in the water, to Kari Oquist of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. This is the Watershed District entity where the stream in question resides. Her response was quick and efficient.
Mr. Johnson:
We appreciate concerned citizens like you who bring these issues to our attention. Thank you!
I am aware that you had previously contacted someone in Minneapolis regarding this issue, and I know they have been investigating it. I did actually visit the site with staff from Minneapolis. I have contacted them and requested that they give me an update so I can get back to you. I am about to leave the office and won’t be back in until mid-week next week. I will hopefully have an update by then that I can pass on to you.
I do want to assure you that this issue does not directly affect Minneapolis’s drinking water supply. The water intake that draws water from the Mississippi River into the drinking water plant is located upstream of Father Hennepin Park. However, we do still take these types of issues very seriously.
I will be in touch with you later next week.
Kari Oquist
Water Resource Manager
My response.
Thanks Kari for getting back to me so quickly. I will be curious when we talk next week how you knew of my concern and who in Minneapolis is testing the water. I know that you and people in your position take your responsibilities seriously. Actually I am counting on it.
I do know that the Minneapolis Water System intake is North of this spot, but St. Paul’s is not plus many others. Also why I say it that way is to acknowledge the River’s direct involvement in our lives. We all are connected to how we use the River as a waste system and how it provides for us in so many ways. Part of my job as an artist is to get people to really see our complicated relationship with the River.
Thanks again, peter
The next day, Friday 7/16/2010, I got a call from the gatherer of the water samples, Steve Kennedy. He works for the City of Minneapolis He said that they had tested the water back on 5/3/2010 because of my reporting of the toxins in the stream in Father Hennepin Park. He said the results despite the obvious smell he detected were “not actionable”. However because of my contact with Ms. Oquist they would be testing the water again that day.
I heard from Ms. Oquist today saying the retesting to try to determine the source of the toxins are not back yet and that this is not really her direct jurisdiction.
I will continue to remain vigilant in trying to get copies of the reports (no success there so far) and finding who is actually responsible for these toxins that are streaming into the Great River of America, The Mississippi. Even more importantly I hope to find out who will be responsible for cleaning them up. I will keep you posted.
