I am a resident of the city of Asheville (the “city”), and I have attempted to obtain public information from various departments from the city of the chemicals present in their water supply. I believe there is a chemical in sufficiently high quantities in the water that is causing me to become ill. Symptoms include wrenching gut pain, pain in my kidneys and liver, loss of appetite, weakness, severely low blood pressure, and which, for me at least, causes a neurotoxic reaction (i.e., the feeling of being electrocuted without the shock).
My symptoms disappeared since shifting solely to an expensive need called bottled spring water, and none of my cooking or beverages are made from local tap water anymore. It works. I feel 100 percent better since dropping the city tap water, and my symptoms have not recurred.
I believe the city is allowing, and it is my basic understanding as a layman, too much of all, any combination of, or one of, any chemical(s) to remain present post-process in the water supply, that exist at the source at elevated levels, to remain post-process at levels that can be dangerous to one’s health (my own health as testament). …
Further, since this matter involves public health, I wanted to “go public” to see if there was anyone else in the city who might also be having similar symptoms and reaction to the drinking water, and I believe your paper/journal, the Mountain Xpress, can assist me in getting in contact with those people. Otherwise, my search for a cure is a “David versus Goliath” battle I could not possibly win against the city. If anyone out there is having the same problems drinking the local water, please contact me so we can document it, and get it properly addressed by the city.
—Vasco Sena
Asheville
Editor’s note: Asheville’s Communication & Public Engagement Division notes that Mr. Sena’s home is on the Woodfin water system, which Mr. Sena confirmed. In a subsequent email, Sena noted that his exposure to Asheville’s tap water had been during his work providing in-home care to his nursing assistant clients and at businesses on the Asheville water system. He offers: “I have to add that it appears to me that these symptoms are not wholly Asheville-related, but might be emblematic of the water provided throughout the state of North Carolina, as I have had the same problem at my daughter’s house in Fayetteville, during the three years I lived in Albemarle, and during the last year of living here in Asheville. I felt that finally there was something wrong, and as anyone is wont to do, I first blamed myself and my own health for the problems. But upon curtailing my drinking of tap water, my problems have not recurred.”
I drink only tap water, straight from the faucet, and I have no problems. Have you talked to your doctor (no, obviously, this is just another fluoride-is-bad article.)
In Israel, we brush our teeth every day. Twice a day.
There is a spring on NC 9 just out of Black Mountain. The water is fabulous, and free. Just bring some jugs and know your feet are going to get wet. You don’t need to waste your money on bottled water.
I hear that tinfoil placed on the top of the head in a hat-like fashion helps to filter out all those bad chemicals that the evil city is poisoning it’s citizens with.