Poll Seeks Answers From River Users and Community Members
Washington, DC – March 23 – Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) has circulated a community survey to assess confidence in the response by authorities to the recent massive sewage spill in the Potomac River, as well as the breadth of the effort to remediate and monitor river health, Betsy Nicholas, PRKN announced today.
Said Nicholas, “The repairs to the ruptured pipeline are proceeding as well as can be expected. Now is the time to determine what needs to be done in the future – both near and far. Our community survey will do just that: we want to know, among other things, who is using the river and why, what are their biggest concerns (after the sewage spill), whether those harmed by the spill should be compensated, and how long authorities should sample and test the water quality. We also want to know the level of satisfaction with the response of DC Water and how trustworthy it is viewed.”
Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper, when asked about the importance and utility of the survey, said, “I hear daily from paddlers, anglers, watermen, and interested people about their concerns. I’m eager to learn from this poll whether there are issues different from those expressed or whether there is a groundswell which should be acknowledged by authorities.”
Nicholas concluded, “Potomac Riverkeeper Network is, at its foundation, an organization which relies on dedicated river users to protect and defend the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers for the six million people who rely on it for drinking water as well as livelihoods and recreation. It’s vital that we know their opinions which we will share with those whose job it is to make certain this disaster does not recur and anyone harmed is made whole – the community survey will tell us much and we urge anyone and everyone to participate.”
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About Potomac Riverkeeper Network
Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with three regional Waterkeeper branches: Potomac Riverkeeper, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper, and Shenandoah Riverkeeper. PRKN’s mission is to protect the right to clean water for all communities and all those who live in and rely upon the Potomac and Shenandoah watersheds by stopping pollution, making drinking water safe, protecting healthy river habitats, and enhancing use and enjoyment for all.
Photo Credit: Alan Lehman
