OBA Calls For Water Safety Tests After Fire
Shadow Minister for Health Dr. Kathy Michelmore has called on the Health Department to sample water from some of the homes directly in the path of the smoke from the HWP fire this past week.
“Our main concern with the situation centres on the possibility that many residents downwind of the mid-afternoon fire did not block their roof downpipes as directed before the heavy rain on Monday night and Tuesday,” said Dr Michelmore.
Immediately after the fire on Monday, the Department of Health issued a statement encouraging all residents in the neighborhood “to protect their rain water supplies from smoke and soot caused by the HWP fire.”
“Ideally all down-pipes that connect the catchments and tanks should be blocked on houses immediately adjacent to the fire, to prevent any pollutants that may have blown onto the roof from being washed into the water tank by the next rainfall. Furthermore, the catchment should be cleaned before being used to collect water again,” said the statement.
Dr Michelmore said the tests can check for VOCs, polycyclic hydrocarbons, PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and asbestos – whatever substances the Fire Department believes were present on the site.
“Without testing, it is unlikely people will know whether they are at risk or not,” said Dr Michelmore. “People need to be assured about the safety of the water they use in their homes.”
Dr Michelmore’s full statement is below:
The OBA recognizes the HWP fire was a sudden, shocking occurrence and that the Health Department has issued public advisories about necessary action to protect home water supplies from soot and smoke contamination.
Our main concern with the situation centres on the possibility that many residents downwind of the mid-afternoon fire did not block their roof downpipes as directed before the heavy rain on Monday night and Tuesday.
These residents should be informed by the Department of Health and the Health Minister if water testing facilities are available, in light of the fact that the Government lab is not fully functioning.
The public need to be informed as soon as possible about the quality of their tank water.
Notices have been issued regarding asbestos, but we think it’s just as important to know if any other smoke-born contaminants pose a threat to public safety as a result of the industrial fire.
These tests can check for VOCs, polycyclic hydrocarbons, PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and asbestos – whatever substances the Fire Department believes were physically present on the site and may have been transmitted by fire.
If the Government Lab is unable to provide analysis, we recommend the Health Department sample water from some of those homes directly in the path of the smoke plume.
These water samples should be sent by courier, for a quick turnaround, to a US water testing facility.
The information learned would enable officials to advise local residents and businesses as to whether they actually need to pump their tanks, especially after all that rain yesterday.
Without testing, it is unlikely people will know whether they are at risk or not. People need to be assured about the safety of the water they use in their homes.
So i have a simple question for Dr. Kathy Michelmore of the OBA and the simpleminded followers.
How was the average worker supposed to block their drains etc……, since most of us were at work during the fire?
Is this going to be the OBA approach to everything going forward, because if it is, they might as well re-open UBP headquarters.
What a bunch of lame ducks….
@through then lens…CO-SIGN!!
If they want votes, all the UBP/OBA members shoud go around to all the dirty water tanks in Bermuda and clean them.
UBP/OBA just kills me, like they have all the answers.
@through the lens…and @GPS….someone should test the water you’ve both been drinking. Dr. Michelmore was just saying folks should test their water before drinking it. She never criticized the PLP. Read the article idiots.
@Black Soil…get your head out of the soil will you and read the comments carefully…
soon we will hear “The OBA Calls For Cheese Burgers with Mayo & Ketchup”
You’re the lame duck idiot. Residents were asked to block their drains etc. yes, but if they were at work, they were to do so AFTER they got home, BEFORE the next hard donwnfall of rain; the water that was in the tanks of residents during the fire was not affected. Any rain that fell and went into the tank AFTER the soot from the fire had settled on roof top etc, would have carried the soot etc. right into the tank IF residents did not do as asked. SO before you go off calling names here and there, check out your information and understand what the hell your talking about before you go around calling names…. argh…. BERMUDIANS!!!!!
@L.D. Thank you for what should have been an obvious answer to ‘through the lens ‘ Regrettably , there are many people simply blinded by their total hate for ANY opposition to their beloved government , and so much so that they simply come accross as illiterate , hatefull , ignorant fools every single time .
Instead of seeing the issue clearly , all that bubbles to the surface is HATE for any opposition .
I live in that area, and work three jobs. So I was unable to get home till around 2 that morning after the rain, so what do you have to say now…………….I completely agree with through the lens and GPS. Idiodic statements made by the OBA/UBP!
Stop back peddling with an excuse about your work hours. TTL’s original statement was really nothing more than another excercise in ‘opposition bashing’ and purely generic in nature and related to people with ‘normal’ working hours .
All you lot want to do is knock any/all /other groups that are not PLP.
Don’t worry , we understand . Now go and get a past time that makes you look a little bit intelligent, eh ?
Now that has to be one of the more ironic statements I’ve read on Bernews in a while, calling the OBA supporters simpleminded! If it wasn’t for an abundance of simpleminded individuals in this country such as yourself we wouldn’t have a PLP government in the fist place, you’re just delusional if you think the current leadership(and ardent followers) of this country have any clue at all … sad for all of us unfortunately!
Oh but wait a minute, Laverne comes from intelligent stock, maybe she can save the day .. LOL
Any excuse to knock the OBA, even if it is a bad one! It was the Government that suggested blocking the tanks, but the warning didn’t come until the next day in the middle of all that rain – too late for anyone to do anything.
Senator Dr. Michelmore’s suggestion that the water be tested makes a lot of sense since by the time the Govt. warning was posted, much water would already have gotten into the tanks.
This is most def something that the Government should be instigating but hasn’t. Let’s hope that they take this water testing idea that the OBA has proposed and run with it in the best interest of all concerned. By the way… where is the Gov. Health Minister anyway? He seems to be MIA on this issue.
Simpleminded is too good for those OBA members. The new spin doctor is better than the old one because she’s spinning her web whilst packing to move to down under.
They always want to attack the PLP and label the bloggers as a furbert/ wayne or laverne. lets start labeling their post dunkley and gibbons but if we do then we are playing the race card
when they do its putting Bermuda first – give me a break.
The question should be, where is the Minister of Health? He usually jumps in at every possible moment to comment of matters that don’t realte to health, but silence here. Many of the materials that were burnt in that fire, paint, thinners, rubber, plastic are dangerous chemicals. There is no doubt that the smoke was hazardous but as the Ministry of Health has remained silent it is good someone has raised the issue.
You can’t take a photo-op next to a building that’s no longer there
He doesn’t want to admit that the Lab where the testing would be done is still cloased (so completely avoid the whole thing)
I’ll tell you why the Government don’t care about these water tank tests and results. All the downwind houses are back a town voters and we got ya vote anyway because yah green to da core! Right people. Who cares if you get cancer down da road. Can I have an Amen!
it doesnt take a genius to realize they should have their tanks checked after such an event. i don’t see why the OBA feels the need to make a press conference about it. its a matter between the residents affected and HWP. if you think you have been affected call up the health dept and get a sample taken. simple. its not a political matter.
Some people need the government for everything… You all act like your wearing pampers and can’t think for yourselves. SMH