I’m writing in response to Richard Haas’ March 4 letter ,”Secure clean water source,” as well as other letters that have been written concerning this topic. I have done some research myself, and found that Clark Public Utilities pulls water from wells in four aquifers — two of which are recharged by the Columbia River (the Lower Orchards Aquifer, and the Sand and Gravel Aquifer). According to its website, Battle Ground has “8 wells, 6 reservoirs, 2 booster pump stations and a water intertie with Clark Public Utilities.”
The cities of Camas, Washougal, and Hood River, to name a few, all discharge their treated sewage into the Columbia River. Like it or not, the water that we are drinking, is already “polluted with … sewage.” The cities mentioned all treat their effluent to drinking-water quality, which is what the Cowlitz Tribe casino is offering as well. The only difference is that the discharge from the casino will be above the aquifer, instead of into the river that feeds the aquifer.
