My Opinion on HB1610

By Mckane Merrifield
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With many environmental safety issues facing the public today, New Hampshire state representative Jim McConnell proposed house bill 1680. The bill states that houses sold in New Hampshire must have a water test for MTBE and PFC’s completed and a map of all local hazards within a mile. MBTE was used in gasoline as an additive, it was abandoned by gas companies because many state made regulation but the damages were already done. Once the water is contaminated it is very difficult to remove because it is so water soluble. Over time the consumption of MBTE can cause cancers and other diseases. Many would agree that everyone should know if there drinking water is safe if you have a public supplied water it is tested regularly to make sure it is safe. The problem is private wells are contaminated and is unknown by the home owner and the people who are using the water. Then they try to sell the house and another family can become effected.
I agree with the house bill 1610 I think that people should know that they are safe in their new home. Some might argue that the distances required for the map are to lager but while we speculate on distances we could be making changes in the larger picture instead of minute details. People can still sell their homes if they lay within some boundaries of being close to auto salvage yards, redemption centers and more it’s the water test that can end a sale of a property because who would want to buy an unsafe water supply. Other problems are that the sellers of the property must provide the water test and map. Some say it should be required from the buyer who would want to make sure the water is safe and they are making the investment of buying a property. A buyer now could ask to perform a water test in today’s real estate market without the bill in effect but, if the seller has multiply offers to buy the property and you want a water test they might reject your offer and sell the property to another buyer who is not asking for a water test.
The house bill seems as if will do more good than harm with more people seeing the risks of contaminated drinking water. This could help the public immensely by showing the buyers that there is contamination instead of blindly being served cancer and other diseases. Many people will be for the bill and some will be against it for some of the minute details that they don’t agree with. But who would want to harm someone to the extent of having them use and consume hazardous water. But let me ask you this do you know if your water is safe for drinking, cooking, and showering water is such a major factor of everyday life but, sometimes we know so little about where it came from and where it goes?