Everybody Likes Clean Water, Right? Right?!

More than 2 million North Carolinians get their water from private wells, many of which have not been tested for contamination. Unfortunately, not everyone is supportive of promoting clean, safe drinking water.  From the News and Observer:

"The state's real estate and home building industries are opposed to mandatory tests of new drinking water wells, especially if a test backlog could delay the sale of a house."

Governor Mike Easley may be one of the few people giving the developers and realtors the benefit of the doubt.  From a statement issued by his office:

"Those bills...were introduced at the Governor's request and they state our position clearly. We are confident that the home builders and realtors share our concerns and want our citizens to have safe drinking water."

One can only hope.  In recent years, state lobbyists for development interests have consistently opposed right to know and notice provisions – in coastal hazard areas, near soil contamination, now with drinking water wells – apparently out of concern that is people know that a property is unsafe, they won’t buy it.  Of course, that’s the basic point of right to know and notice provisions – they give people enough information to make wise decisions about the levels of risk to which they’re willing to expose themselves and their families.

If you’re about to buy a house, wouldn’t you want to know if the water in your well is safe to drink?