by Anna Lockhart

High levels of arsenic in a local trailer park’s drinking water are cause for concern for Wayne County community members. Earlham Bonner scholars will be collecting money for the Dollars for Clean Water campaign to help fix the problem.

In 2006, the Indiana Department of Environment Management found arsenic levels in the Garden City trailer park’s water that were three times the legal limit. Poverty-stricken residents continue to use the water.

“These people are drinking and bathing in poison,” said Bob Wotherspoon, who lives next door to the trailer park. “It really is appalling.”

The Garden City trailer park on U.S. 27 is home to 90 families.

Exposure to the arsenic has given many park residents chronic diarrhea, skin discoloration and other health problems, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Long-term exposure to arsenic is also linked to several types of cancers. Six of the park’s residents have already died of cancer-related illnesses, according to Wotherspoon.

Richmond and Wayne County residents have said there is little they can do to change the situation.

The trailer park lies just outside of Richmond city limits, four-tenths of a mile from the end of the city water line. Residents would have to pay $800,000 to extend the city water line, a price they cannot afford.

Wotherspoon believes county officials are ignoring Garden City because of its poverty.

“For 40-something years, they have kept that park quiet,” he said. “They’re saying, let’s just hide our poverty.”

Wotherspoon has taken up Garden City’s cause, pleading with county and state officials to fix the park’s water. State and county officials will meet Monday at 10 a.m. at Highland Heights Elementary School to discuss the issue.

For a temporary solution, Wotherspoon delivers a truckload of water and Gatorade to Garden City residents every other Sunday. Madison’s Mission’s food pantry donates thousands of cases each week to the families.

Wotherspoon has also started the Dollars for Water campaign to raise money to extend the city water line. Rebecca Hersey, director of Madison’s Missions, said she does not foresee a permanent solution anytime soon.

“If they condemn the park, these people will have nowhere to go,” said Hersey. “But it’s going to take a long time to raise the money one dollar at a time.”

Dollars for Clean Water has raised $500 so far. Wotherspoon wants to raise $400,000 and hopes the state will match that.

Wotherspoon also hopes to get Garden City’s story to the Oprah Winfrey show.

“The more people we get looking at the situation, the more likely there will be a solution,” said Hersey.

How can you help the cause?

1. Drop a dollar in one of the Dollars for Clean Water jars in Runyan, Carpenter or the Bonner Center for Service and Vocation in the Bolling Center, or in the hands of a Bonner scholar.

2. Write to the Oprah Winfrey show at www.oprah.com. Wotherspoon has already been in contact with Harpo, Inc. and is hopeful about a response.

3. Volunteer to help Madison’s Mission load water onto trucks for Garden City. Call Rebecca Hersey at (765) 966-6016 for more information.