South-side Tucsonans Rally for Another Battle Against Water Pollution

South-sider Linda Robles has experienced a decade marked by family illnesses. She lost a daughter to lupus and saw the illness affect two more of her seven children. Her family has also dealt with cleft lip in a daughter and grandson, and last year, her ex-husband was diagnosed with a cancerous kidney tumor.

Now, Robles is at the forefront of a potential legal battle regarding contaminated water that may be causing these and other health issues. Having lived in the area for most of her 55 years, Robles is organizing an effort to collect hundreds of legal claims alleging that water contamination is the culprit behind the community’s ailments, potentially leading to a lawsuit.

Groundwater contamination is not new for the south side, which has been dealing with cancer-causing trichloroethylene (TCE) in its drinking water since 1981. Previous lawsuits in the 1990s resulted in financial settlements for residents from Hughes Aircraft Co., among others, for TCE-related illnesses such as cancer, lupus, and birth defects.

This potential lawsuit, however, targets a different contaminant—1,4-dioxane. Used as an industrial solvent, 1,4-dioxane was first discovered in the area’s groundwater in 2002 and is considered a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Efforts to remove it didn’t begin until 2014, lagging behind the TCE cleanup efforts that began in the late 1980s.

At a recent community meeting, hundreds gathered to hear Robles and attorney Richard Gonzales discuss past and potential future legal actions. Gonzales, who secured over $100 million in TCE legal settlements, is semi-retired but has offered to assist Robles, though he does not plan to formally represent the new case. Robles aims to sue Raytheon Missile Systems, which merged with Hughes Aircraft in the late 1990s, but no litigation has been filed yet.

Challenges in the potential lawsuit include proving that 1,4-dioxane specifically caused the illnesses, separate from any effects of TCE. Additionally, residents would need to show they have been drinking contaminated water in recent years. Tucson Water officials maintain that no contaminated water has been served to south-side residents since 1981 when 11 city wells were closed due to TCE.

Robles and other residents distrust these assurances. She has gathered around 400 claim forms from people who believe their cancers stem from drinking water and plans to conduct a detailed health study with a doctor’s help.

Recently, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality reached out to Robles with promising news—they are requesting a health consultation for TCE and 1,4-dioxane contamination near Tucson International Airport, looking into possible associations with cancer and lupus. The state Health Department is also seeking more data to decide whether to involve the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) for a broader health assessment.

In her studio apartment, Robles keeps a map dotted with cancer cases within the TCE pollution plume area, given to her by Rose Marie Augustine of Tucsonans for a Clean Environment. Robles’ personal timeline of family health crises began in 2003 with her daughter Tiana’s lupus diagnosis and subsequent death in 2007, followed by similar diagnoses and severe outcomes for her other children and relatives.

Her granddaughter’s illness in 2012 spurred Robles to study water issues, attend relevant meetings, and mobilize residents to file legal claims. She intends to send these forms to the Justice Department since Raytheon is an Air Force contractor.

Faces of the community like Angela Martinez and Sharon Flowers, whose family history includes severe health issues linked to TCE contamination, are also preparing to file claims. Their personal and family health stories highlight the potential ongoing risks and the community’s desperation for lasting solutions.

Determining the link between health problems and 1,4-dioxane remains a significant hurdle. Numerous experts suggest challenges in proving the health impacts of 1,4-dioxane versus TCE, which has a more documented and recognized history of causing cancer.

Cleanup efforts for 1,4-dioxane began in earnest only in recent years. Prior to 2014, Tucson Water blended dioxane-contaminated water with clean water to meet EPA standards, but new guidelines required more stringent measures. A new plant opened in 2014 to treat water to undetectable levels of dioxane.

Tucson Water claims that no TARP-treated water has been delivered to south-side residents. Robles and others argue that the complexity of water treatment and distribution still puts them at risk.

The community continues to seek accountability and a healthier future, driven by personal losses and a quest for justice.

Contact reporter Tony Davis at

tdavis@tucson.com

or 806-7746. On Twitter @tonydavis987