Pottstown landfill (Pottsville, Pottsgrove, Bally: living, dangerous, moving to)

[Peterfett]

So I have been reading and hearing some things about the Pottsville landfill (and surrounding areas) being a very dangerous spot. Is it true that the cancer rate in Pottstown is much higher than the average city due to this landfill? Can someone tell me where it is located? Is it really a threat to your health? Does the city plan on doing anything about the threat?

I am thinking about moving to Pottstown and just hearing these stories is scaring me. I would like to hear from some Pottstowners. Thank you. Any information is greatly appreciated.

[1orangetabbycat]

I've heard that as well. Can't say if it is from the landfill or not, but the cancer rates are definitely higher in the area.

[CosmicWizard]

In the nearby town of Bally, 5 families on the same street lost a household member to death-by-Cancer in a 5 year period. I think this was due to a water contamination issue from chemical seepage into the H2O supply. ( Last time I visited family there in 2006, the borough of Bally was providing free bottled water to all residents ) Although this is not an apples to apples comparison, I would strongly advise NOT living near a landfill if you have the option to live elsewhere. It makes no sense to take the risk. You'll probably find that those who say there's no harm from the landfill live a good distance away from it.

blessings...Franco

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Peterfett

So I have been reading and hearing some things about the Pottsville landfill (and surrounding areas) being a very dangerous spot. Is it true that the cancer rate in Pottstown is much higher than the average city due to this landfill? Can someone tell me where it is located? Is it really a threat to your health? Does the city plan on doing anything about the threat?

I am thinking about moving to Pottstown and just hearing these stories is scaring me. I would like to hear from some Pottstowners. Thank you. Any information is greatly appreciated.

I've lived in or around Pottstown for most of my life, and the landfill has been a controversy ever since I can remember. There's been numerous articles on it in the local paper (Pottstown Mercury) about its potential environmental dangers and its effect on the surrounding population, but it's been said time and again that any chemicals are completely contained from entering the environment (I remember once upon taking an actual tour of the landfill that there is a sophisticated way in which hazardous gases are surrounded by leak-proof materials and monitored electronically). However, I will also attest to the fact that the cancer rate is abnormally high in Pottstown, but whether this can be attributed to the landfill is a whole other debate. Someone who cited Bally as being affected by the landfill seems odd, being that Bally is about 5-10 miles away from West Pottsgrove Township, where the landfill is located. This would make Bally outside of the area receiving the same tap water that West Pottsgrove does, so perhaps that can be attributed to something else.

That being said, the landfill should not cause you more concern than is needed. Another thing about Pottstown that should be noted -- which definitely says a lot about the higher incidence of cancer -- is that an abnormally higher percentage of people in Pottstown are smokers and older people who have a history of working in old industrial fields. Because many companies in the past were not as stringent in their health standards, many of today's blue-collar, lower-middle class communities where these old factories were located show higher rates of diseases, and Pottstown is certainly no exception.

I apologize for the long spiel, but I hope that helps to better explain the whole situation. Feel free to ask any more specific questions.