Raspberry Falls - Loudoun Water's Refusal to Request for Raw Water Testing

February 4, 2011

Subject: Raspberry Falls – Loudoun Water’s Refusal of Request for Raw Water Testing

To: Mr. Mark Petersen, Director of Community Relations Loudoun Water
Mr. Dale Hammes, Manager Loudoun Water
Mr. Fred Jennings - Chairman, Loudoun Water Board of Directors

Cc: Mr. Edward Burrell - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Mr. Pravin Gandhi - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Mr. Charles Harris - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Mr. Mark Koblos - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Ms. Patti Psaris - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Mr. Johnny Rocca - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Ms. Tanja Thompson - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Mr. Ralph Watson - Board Member, Loudoun Water
Mr. Jack Roberts, Loudoun County Attorney
Mr. Scott York - Chairman, Loudoun County
Ms. Susan Klimek Buckley - Vice Chairman, Loudoun County
Mr. Jim Burton - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Ms. Lori Waters - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Ms. Sally Kurtz - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Mr. Stevens Miller - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Ms. Kelly Burk - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Ms. Andrea McGemsey - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Mr. Eugene Delgaudio - Supervisor, Loudoun County
Mr. Tim Hemstreet - Administrator, Loudoun County
Mr. Charles Yudd - Administrator, Loudoun County
Dr. David Goodfriend, Director of Loudoun County Health Department
Senator Jill Holtzman-Vogel
Delegate Joe May
Honorable Frank Wolf
Dr. Wes Kleene
Ms. Kristen Unstattd - Mayor, Town of Leesburg
Mr. Kevin Wright - Vice Mayor, Town of Leesburg
Mr. David Butler - Council Member, Town of Leeburg
Mr. Tomas Dunn II - Council Member, Town of Leesburg
Ms. Katie Sheldon Hammler - Council Member, Town of Leesburg
Mr. Fernando Martinez - Council Member, Town of Leesburg
Mr. Kenneth Reid - Council Member, Town of Leesburg
Ms. Jeanette Irby - Attorney, Town of Leesburg
Mr. John Wells - Manager, Town of Leesburg


Dear Mr. Petersen:
This is to confirm our conversation of February 1, 2001, in which we discussed Loudoun Water’s refusal to make raw water available for independent testing on our behalf.
Specifically, you advised me that Loudoun Water will not give Raspberry Falls permission to employ an EPA accredited lab to test our raw water. You further advised that doing so would constitute a “security risk” and would present “chain of evidence” problems. I then explained that the water to be tested would be placed directly in the possession of the accredited lab by Loudoun Water, eliminating any security risk. Again you answered “no”. Finally, you also said that you were under no obligation to respond in writing to our request for raw water, and that the time required to prepare such a response would be prohibitive, given other Loudoun Water priorities. As you have refused to document our conversation in writing, I am doing so myself.
Mr. Peterson, you must know that we are offended by this obstructionist and officious stance. As Loudoun Water knows by now, we are deeply concerned about the safety of our water. This is why we requested an independent test.
While we appreciate that Loudoun Water has agreed to test options for the provision of safe water to our community, we cannot wait any longer to learn about the nature of the raw water being provided to us, as this information critically relates to our health. We would imagine Loudoun Water might welcome an independent test of water from the wells that you insist are safe. It makes no sense to us why such a reasonable request would be refused.
As you will note, I have copied numerous state and local officials, so they may be kept apprised of ongoing process details with the water safety issue within Raspberry Falls.
Sincerely,
Karen Saunders