It has been 20 years since the city of Woburn was diagnosed with toxic well water that was responsible for the illness and deaths of many people, especially children with Leukemia. My son, Robbie, was one of those children. He was diagnosed in 1976 at the age of four, and died in 1981 at the age of nine. He never had the opportunity to grow up, or to ever know who was responsible for poisoning the water he drank and bathed in. I am sure he would be unforgiving to know it was the irresponsible corporations who found it easier and less expensive to dump toxins in their backyards.

Since 1979 the water wells were permanently closed to public consumption, when it was discovered that corporate toxins, such as TCE, were seeping into the drinking water. Water that we trusted to be pure. The aquifer which fed the wells continues to be contaminated with TCE. It will take thousands of years to ever clean it, and that would only happen with strict compliance of all remaining and future industry surrounding the aquifer. Who will be responsible?

With the event of A Civil Action the movie (based on the book written by Jonathan Harr), it is my sincere hope that all audiences will feel the need to think in a different way about the future of our children and the environment. It is our responsibility now to protect the future of both.

Unfortunately, there are many Woburns in the world, yet to be discovered. And so many have already been diagnosed with toxic land, water and air!

It is very scary, especially when it is left up to someone else to find the solution. When will it all end? Who will help us? Where do we go for help? Who will be responsible?

We can work together through this network. It is a start!

— Written by Donna Robbins

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