I am a mom and I want to thank Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, for voting to protect families like mine from arsenic in drinking water. Thousands of rural Mainers rely on private wells, many of which have dangerous levels of arsenic and other toxic chemicals in them. But a lot of people don’t know about the need to get a water test. In fact, less than half of Maine residents who own a private well have tested their water.

This is a serious health problem. Arsenic is linked to bladder cancer, skin cancer and lung cancer, and it also is known to cause lowered IQ scores in school children. How are people supposed to know that there is poison in their well when it is odorless, colorless and tasteless?

I am glad that the Legislature passed L.D. 1162 with such strong bipartisan support. We are counting on legislators to override the governor’s veto.

Anna Lazarro

West Gardiner