KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo County Board has designated a large section of Oshtemo Township as a “Groundwater Restricted Zone,” prohibiting the use of well water without a special waiver.
It’s because a huge plume of contamination from the KL Avenue landfill continues to grow.
The homeowners in the zone are already hooked up to municipal water, paid for by the responsible parties. A new batch of unhappy homeowners will soon join them.
“If I’m going to be forced to drink city water, then I expect the city to pay for it,” an upset homeowner said Tuesday night.
Commissioner Kevin Wordelman said their plight was due to corporations who dumped chemicals decades ago. He also said the EPA no longer has the money to help with the cleanup.
“We are where we are because those higher powers just don’t care as much about folks in the neighborhood as they should,” Wordelman said.
The EPA ordered Kalamazoo County to either pass the ordinance or go to each property separately and insert deed restrictions.
– John McNeill
