In February Duke Energy spilled toxic coal ash into the Dan River. It still isn't cleaned up. Duke Energy is still fighting in court to keep from having to pay in full for the clean up not only on Dan River but at the other sites as well. Governor McCrory worked for Duke Energy for 28 years. There are on going investigations into the campaign finances and the Governor's response or lack of strong response to Duke Energy's pollution. Follow me below the orange cheeto to see what it personally means to have to deal with polluted water.
I live in North Carolina and am a caregiver to a 100% disabled brother. For the last couple of years I have been fighting the black gunk coming out of my water faucets. The maintenance people tell me it is the result of stuff in our water tables and they have asked the government to do something about it but nothing has been done. The black gunk coats the pipes and rapidly builds up to stop up the drains. The only way to open the drains is use the strongest of the commercial drain openers. Of course that means more chemicals in my drains and the odors that kick up my asthma. I have tried using a plunger but it just spews the junk all over everything from the overflow vent.
Yesterday I was cleaning the kitchen and had to clean a massive deposit of gunk on the dishwasher filter. I have had to clean the filters in the washing machine. I use a water filter in the kitchen and even with that I still get slime coming out of the filter section.
Essentially my whole life is covered with black gunk. When I shower it is in the water. When I wash dishes it is in the water. When I wash clothes it is in the water. The apartment says they can do nothing. The city says they can do nothing. The state is owned by Duke Energy.
What I have noticed is that in the last couple years my asthma and C.O.P.D. has gotten a lot worse. I went through two major asthma attacks last night. Water pollution is not just a fight between environmental groups and big energy. It is not just a fight to keep the money out of politics. It is a matter of life and breath. It is a senior citizen who has nowhere to turn because no one is willing to do anything. I'm a 24/7 caregiver. I don't have the time to be constantly grabbing my inhaler so I can breath.