Monday, January 2, 2006

Green Valley woman makes water awareness her mission

B. POOLE - Tucson Citizen

Tucson Citizen

When Nancy Freeman moved to Green Valley three years ago, she soon noticed a stubborn white film on her dishes and sinks and in her shower.

"I had to wipe off my stainless steel sink every time it got wet or it would get spots, then I would have to get out the vinegar," said the 63-year-old Dallas native who works as a caregiver.

When she found out her hard water might be the result of seepage from tailings ponds at a nearby Phelps Dodge copper mine, she took action.

Freeman launched a Web site and later a nonprofit group, the Groundwater Awareness League, to make sure people know they can have a say in how the state manages and protects their water supply.

"My only goal is to let people know what is going on," she said.

For the past year, Freeman has been gathering water pollution data and posting it on her Web site to arm people so they can take part in public hearings. The group meets monthly at the library and usually draws a few dozen people, she said.

Freeman decided to get involved when she heard about the seepage of sulfate - an unregulated salt that occurs naturally - from tailings ponds at the western edge of Green Valley. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has found no health problems associated with sulfate, but it suggests 250 milligrams per liter as a maximum for acceptable taste and odor.

Her water provider, Community Water Company of Green Valley, last year capped two wells that tested above the limit, including the one that served Freeman's home. But the sulfate plume is slowly growing, and the water company says it can't drill new wells in the plume.

With the state Department of Environmental Quality reviewing a Phelps Dodge application for a permit regulating how it handles pollution, including sulfate, Freeman wants to make sure everyone is aware of the review.

She said she is not trying to shut down mining - a staple of the Arizona economy for more than a century.

"That's not what we want," she said. "We want to see responsible mining so it's a win for everyone."

Since 2004, Freeman has spent hundreds of hours tracking down information for her Web site, studying how other mines affect groundwater, and organizing public meetings.

"A motivating factor for me is that I have always been for the underdog," she said. "I have always tried to stand up for the underdog."

Her next focus will be depletion of the water table. She hopes to organize a meeting of involved government agencies and others to discuss ways to replenish the groundwater.

More information

Save the Santa Cruz Aquifer (www.savethesantacruzaquifer.info): This Web site provides information on mining and its effects on the environment. It includes links to government information and reports on the Internet.

Groundwater Awareness League (www.g-a-l.info): This non-profit organization aims to inform the public on pollution and depletion of groundwater in Arizona.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (www.azdeq.gov): The state agency's mission is to protect and enhance public health and the environment in Arizona.

To get involved

Groundwater Awareness League: This nonprofit organization aims to inform the public on pollution and depletion of groundwater in Arizona. For information: Groundwater Awareness League, Nancy Freeman, executive director, P.O. Box 934, Green Valley, AZ 85622, or (520) 207-6506. Next meeting: Jan. 9, 10 a.m., Tucson-Pima Public Library, Joyner-Green Valley branch, 601 N. La Cañada Drive.