U.S. Water News Online
HEMPHILL, Texas -- State environmental officials say drinking water in a large reservoir along the Texas-Louisiana border has not been significantly contaminated by debris from the space shuttle Columbia that reportedly fell into it.
Officials with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said after an analysis that there was not enough hazardous material aboard the shuttle to contaminate the 185,000-acre Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Among the debris is a piece described as about the size of a small car.
``It would take large amounts of chemicals'' to harm a body of water that large, TCEQ spokesman Andy Saenz told the Houston Chronicle. ``We do not believe that debris from the space shuttle Columbia could contaminate the lake's use as a public water supply.''
The Sunday following the shuttle disaster, a bass tournament there occurred on schedule, according to Toledo Town Tackle in Many, La.
Law enforcement officers with Jasper, Newton and Sabine counties, tipped off by a fisherman, scoured the reservoir with sonar equipment and underwater cameras but found no debris.
But concern over water quality prompted local officials to press the state environmental agency to validate the safety of the water.
The worries came as NASA continued warning people not to touch or go near pieces of the space craft because they could be contaminated with poisonous rocket fuels.
The Environmental Protection Agency will continue to monitor air and water quality as part of its investigation, spokesman Joe Martyak said.
Saenz said the contamination risk to private wells is very low.
Meanwhile, the drinking water plant in the city of Many remained shut down. Mayor Ken Freeman, who ordered the closure Saturday morning, said he would not lift the suspension until after a test of the water Monday by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
``I am sure it is fine, but I am going to err on the side of caution,'' Freeman said. ``I have backup water wells that will meet all our water needs.''
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