Letter to the Editor

Trash doesn't go in our water

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Oh for the love of Pete... would you people please stop dumping your garbage in our water?

In the March 5 edition of the Mountain Home News, I wrote a story describing where the county commissioners want to start storing runoff water. In that article, I added the fact that someone was caught dumping their garbage in one of those run-off pits.

Since then, at least two other individuals have dumped garbage at the site.

What part of "littering means federal charges" do you people not understand?

After all, this land doesn't belong to them or even the state. It's actually owned by the Bureau of Land Management, and they're the ones who will come after these litterbugs.

When I looked at all this trash, all I could think of was what is wrong with these people. Was I not clear enough when I explained water is being diverted into these areas to drain back into the aquifer?

I really don't want to have to pay more in taxes for a water reclamation plant just because someone decided to ditch their dirty underwear or kids' baby junk in our water supply.

The gravel pits are not a landfill! If you have garbage, take it to the landfill transfer station.

Doing the right thing will not cost you anything. Dumping garbage on BLM land or anyplace that's not listed as an official landfill can cost you dearly.

If you don't know where to find the landfill, pay attention.

On Interstate 84, take Exit 99. From there, continue east on Old Oregon Trail Road and drive just past the gravel pit. The landfill transfer station is on the right on Bennett Road.

Talk to Deb Ireland, who manages the station for the county, and she will take care of you. Most types of waste are free, and even large items are free up to one ton.

There is simply no excuse to ruin our water supply due to someone's laziness or their inability to follow the rules.