the fault dear brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves

Perspective for your consideration …What does it look like when it’s fixed…?
State files lawsuit against Far West…September 10, 2008 - 7:20PM…BY JOYCE LOBECK, Yuma Sun…excerpted…A major environmental lawsuit has been filed against Far West Water and Sewer Co. and H and S Developers, seeking penalties for numerous alleged water and air quality violations dating back to the early 1990s that could amount to a judgment of millions of dollars. The lawsuit was filed by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the state's attorney general, ADEQ Director Steve Owens announced during a news conference Wednesday in Yuma. "These were very serious violations that put the community potentially at risk," Owens said. "There were repeated and long-standing violations of wastewater, drinking water and air quality standards.” The violations were multiple and occurred repeatedly over many years, he said. They range from not having required permits and exceeding discharge limits from wastewater treatment plants, to failure to sample and report contaminant levels in drinking water. The air quality violations are related to complaints by area residents of a septic odor. Owens said Far West currently is in compliance except for a lack of aquifer protection permits for some of the company's seven wastewater treatment plants. Fortunately, Owens said, there were no reports of health issues as a result of the violations and gave assurances that Foothills residents today are not at risk. "I'm confident the drinking water is safe based on the inspections we've performed." he said. "There's no reason to think the drinking water wasn't safe. We just didn't have any reports."…Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.
Let’s see 18 years after the fact and now ADEQ Director Steve Owens takes action…! But not to worry, his department assures the folks being served by this alleged water purveyor violator the water they are being sold and ingest is – SAFE – though there are NO records or reports…? Say, what… trust me I’m from the government, I’m here to protect you…? WOW, Steve that’s an awful lot you’re asking. Your water is - safe - because Director Steve Owens says it is, not because there are any verifiable third party reports or inspections.

I feel I must apologize to you, Director Owens as I certainly did not realize you possessed such clairvoyant ability so as not to need any outside assurance before pronouncing any source of water – safe…?

I know not whether to laugh up my sleeve or cry in my beer as I find your words, Director Owens, most disturbing. Are you honestly asking the citizens of Arizona to believe that 18 years can pass before your department sees fit to even begin to ask questions and take a stand on issues so vital to our health…? Is this how your department exercises its mission statement … to serve and to protect …?

Equally when I look into that mirror, I see that “we,” and that most assuredly includes, moi, chose to passively submit and go along, mainly to get along, not to ruffle any feathers. We allowed your agency to play that game of inviting the public to the table when water is a topic only have enjoined those “back-room-folks” where the decision is made out of sight.

Though I would like to make you Director Owens solely wrong and bad, that is not the truth as “we” did not rise to speak, to demand our voice be heard, we chose to continue to elect those who support unrestricted growth without honorable and holistic attention to our state’s environment.

I trust Shakespeare will forgive me, but it appears to me, Director Owens … The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves … Julius Caesar…