“We Drink Water and We Vote’

File photo

The Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition and a crowd of nearly 100 rallied on the front steps of the Montgomery County Council office building in advance of the  Council’s Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) and Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment (T&E) committee work session on drinking water and reservoir issues related to Ten Mile Creek on Jan. 27.

According to a press release, the rally began amidst chants of ‘We Drink Water and We Vote”.  The Coalition and members of its 29 partner organizations said they gathered to deliver 1,000 handwriten letters from voters to the Montgomery County Council sporting a five-foot wide envelope urging the Council to fully protect Ten Mile Creek.

“When voters understand that their drinking water is at stake, they are motivated to act,” said Andrew Fellows of Chesapeake Regional Director, Clean Water Action. Collected by Clean Water Action canvassers, the letters were gathered during five months of door knocking, with a focus on District 2 where the watershed is located.

MCGEO recently joined the Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition resulting in the County’s first Green-Blue Alliance.  Erin Yeagley, Field Representative / Organizer, UCFW Local 1994 MCGEO stated, “MCGEO members are proud to stand in solidarity with this Coalition fighting to protect drinking water for all County residents.  MCGEO members drink water and we vote.”

Pablo Blank of Latino Environmental Awareness and Direction (LEAD) spoke about the importance of water security for all income levels, including those who cannot easily afford bottled water.

Beth Daly of Sugarloaf Citizens Association stated, “Our best science clearly indicates that any development will degrade the ecosystem precipitously, and impact drinking water, including the many residents in the northern county who rely entirely on underground wells for their drinking water.”

Hamza Khan, a community activist and ally of the Agricultural Reserve, said that “Protecting Ten Mile Creek is a spiritual service.”

Diane Cameron, Conservation Program Director for the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) said, “The eyes of the entire DC region are on this Council as they decide the fate of Ten Mile Creek- the cleanest source of water to our region’s only nearby emergency drinking water supply. We hope they make the right decision.”

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