A group of Northwest Indiana organizations sent a letter to the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, asking for a public meeting about the arsenic levels at the Chase Street artesian well.
Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, the Gary Food Council and Calumet Collaborative sent the letter on Oct. 9, saying it was on behalf of the organizations, members of the Chase Street Wetlands Community Advisory Board and patrons of the well.
More Top Picks Best Slant Boards For Handwriting
A U.S. Geological Survey study found that arsenic levels were above the maximum contaminant level for drinking water, according to Post-Tribune archives. The study includes test results from 2022 and 2023 at groundwater wells in Northwest Indiana.
The artesian well, which doesn’t require a pump to bring water to its surface, near Chase and 35th streets was found to have arsenic in 2022, a hydrologist with the USGS said at an Aug. 20 meeting of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission.
According to the Oct. 9 letter, the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission ordered further testing of the well be conducted by Wessler Engineering.
“Upon completion of that testing, we respectfully request that the LCRBDC hold a public meeting in the City of Gary to present and discuss Wessler’s findings, and further to provide the opportunity for public questions and comments,” the letter said. “The artesian well is a valued resource in our community, and we believe it would set a positive precedent for the LCRBDC to work with community stakeholders to develop a mutually agreeable response to the testing results.”
A representative for the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission on Monday was unable to immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesman for the city of Gary previously responded to the arsenic levels found in Gary’s well, according to Post-Tribune archives.
“The health and well being of our community is a priority,” spokesman Steve Segura said in a previous email to the Post-Tribune. “We’ve been made aware of the concerns. Although this falls within our boundaries, the (Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission) is the owner. We have spoken with them, and we will be working with them to understand the issue and respond accordingly. Indiana American Water Company provides the residents with a reliable water source that is tested regularly according to regulations.”
In May 2022, the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission began to transform the Chase Street well into a “park-like area to make it more user-friendly,” according to Post-Tribune archives.
The Chase Street well water is tested once a month and test results are published on the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s website, and the water was consistently safe for drinking by IDEM standards.