To Reidsville City Council, As property owners, business owners and citizens of Reidsville N.C. , we are writing to express our concern of Reidsville City Council's consideration to increase the water rates while still providing unclean and unsafe drinking water. Each of us that utilize the City's water supply has an expectation that it is clean of impurities and disease causing pathogens. We have governmental standards that we must meet with our water supply and sadly this city council continues to fail its citizens, businesses and visitors. 

The drinking water of over 14,000 Reidsville residents is contaminated by toxic chemicals known as Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Haloacetic acids, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed during the drinking water chlorination process are carcinogens. The potential health effects from ingesting our water give increased risks for low birth weights, miscarriages, birth defects and an increased risk of cancer.

We have lost many brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and friends to cancer and other major health issues in our little community. We do not need to lose anymore in what may possibly be caused or sped up by our water supply. 

Everyone has the right to clean water, adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family, and no one shall be deprived of such. You, the Reidsville City Council, are knowingly depriving its citizens, business owners and visitors of adequate clean water. 

We are demanding that you put the city's water supply first, resolve this issue and provide us with adequate clean drinking water. We further ask that you do not increase the rates as it is unjust to pay more for water, especially unclean and unsafe water. 

In a household of two a monthly water bill of $50.00 should be deemed overpriced. Yet you wish to increase that bill 50% ($75.00) is absurd. Stop stealing from your citizens to pay Paul. Stop the improvements downtown and give our tax dollars back to the community in the form of clean water. 

Cynthia Wagoner Diane & David Walker

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