Salto, Dianne D. Atty.

Galahad Pe Benito

CHAPTER II: Woburn

Woburn is a city with a population of thirty six thousand only. It was a small island,
surrounded by city traffic. Woburn first commercial enterprise had been a tannery built by the
Wyman brothers in 1648. Reverend Mr. Bruce Young arrived at Woburn Trinity Episcopal Church
in the summer 1966 and he was 28 years old and ambitious. Trinitity was his first church. Had
planned to stay in Woburn for only five years. Woburn parishioners like him. The sick became the
heart and soul of his ministry.
Children aged six years old and below were caught by this epidemic disease called acute
lymphocytic leukemia. At first, many parents thought it was a disease with unknown cause because
the Doctor who treats leukemia in Woburn is still looking for the answers of possible cause of
leukemia in childhood. Soon, many parents discovered that their child was not the only one with
leukemia. Anne Anderson, the mother of Jimmy (leukemia patient) had noticed something unusual
because of the water that theyd been using coming from the Wells G and H. At first it was potable
but the east side households of Woburn have been talking about the smell of the water, how rusty it
is and how dirty it is. She suspected that maybe, water from Wells G and H were the big factor of
why their children have been suffering from leukemia. But, Charles Anderson, her husband, was
not convinced about Annes theory. Later on, Anne talked about the problem with Reverend
Young. At the back of his mind, while listening to Annes theory, he was not convinced that it
really is the water that caused leukemia to the children. The citys real water problem began with
the drilling of Wells G and H. Residents complained to the Daily Times that the water is very
unpotable, very hard and has a strong chemical taste. There had been several protest to the Mayor
for the closing of Wells G and H. At first, the heed the demands of Woburn residents and shut the
wells. But then, it was ordered to pump again by the order of city engineer. The cycle seemed
unending. Woburn police were summoned in the spring 1979 to investigate the appearance of 184
barrels of industrial waste on a plot of vacant land in Northeast Woburn. The midnight dumper was
still unknown. The waste was tested for possible chemical contamination and it turned out that
Wells G and H were heavily contaminted with trichloroethylene known as TCE and industrial
solvent use to disolve grease and oil. The Woburn Daily Times reported the incident of shutting
down Wells G and H. At first, Anne wasnt aware about this report as well as Reverend Young.
When Young found out about this report, he immediately called Anne to tell her about his plan of
asking all the parents whose child was positive of leukemia. Anne knew about eight cases in the
neighborhood.
Reverend Young thought that a lawyer might be needed in the current situation and so he told
Donna that hed be happy to meet Mulligan and explain the circumstances in Woburn. The lawyer
expressed his interest over the case. He pointed out one significant problem: Who was to blame for
the TCE in the wells? The report confirmed that there have been an unusual number of cases of
leukemia in east Woburn but the authors said that they did not find any link between the
contaminated drinking water and childhood leukemia. But the suspicion continued since there has
been a fact that organic contaminants were found in the water supply.