Politics & Government

Rocket Fuel Chemical Found In Lakewood Drinking Water

Toxic chemical reportedly detected in Lakewood and Puyallup waters and an estimated 17 million people have ingested it.

The Environmental Protection Agency said a rocket fuel ingredient linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women and children has been detected in water across the country, the Obama administration announced yesterday, according to the Boston Globe.

The rocket fuel chemical known as perchlorate has been found in 153 water sources in 26 states including Lakewood and Puyallup based on water analysis conducted from 2001 to 2005. In an unprecedented effort to combat the potentially unsafe drinking water, the EPA has launched its first federal drinking water standard.

There's a strong chance perchlorate has polluted Lakewood water because of the city's close proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest military installation on the West Coast. Perchlorate is used in fireworks and explosives and has been known to contaminate water from irregular disposal at rocket testing sites and chemical plants.

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The Lakewood Water District or JBLM officials were not available for comment.

Democrats have advocated for the EPA to step up and control the release of perchlorate in water. Lisa Jackson, EPA administrator, said the standard will protect public health and spark new technologies to clean up drinking water. It could take up to two years to develop the standard, the EPA said.

Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There is an estimated 17 million people ingesting perchlorate, Q13 Fox News reported Wednesday night.

Interestingly enough, Black Bear Yogurt & Espresso owner Jesse Roberge thought the tap water coming from his establishment's sink in Lakewood tasted different yesterday afternoon. Roberge said it had more of a chlorinated taste. Roberge did not reference any published material that reported a toxic chemical in some city's tap water.

Stay tuned for an investigative follow up.


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