I went back and found the original article:

http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-21/news/29798099_1_drinking-water-radioactive-iodine-water-department

Did you file a report with the EPA? It's not hard, I've done it before.

Hi Jo. I did file four complaints - 2 with the state EPA and two with the federal EPA. No response whatsoever. Our tax dollars at work, eh.

How about the my fox philly people? Aren't they always doing stories on city issues like broken water mains? I think this would be a relevant story for them.

How about the my fox philly people? Aren't they always doing stories on city issues like broken water mains? I think this would be a relevant story for them.

Jo: I've tried everything. The feds EPA, the state EPA, my local councilman, Curtis Jones, the Daily News, philly.com. No one seems to think it's worthy of a follow up story...or somebody is hidning something.

I think that you need to go back and re-read the article. No one person or company is "dumping" radioactive urine. In fact, the word "dumping" implies that it is being put there intentionally. What the article stated is that it is suspected that the source is patient urine, but the exactl location where it is coming from is unknown. If a person who received I-131 treatment goes to the bathroom, where does their waste go? Hmm, give that some thought.

Simply827: I think you need to re-read the article. That fact is the ONLY way for radioactive iodine 131 to get into the Wissahickon Creek is for some human being to dumpt urine waste into it. The article did state that they do not know what the source is. That is the whole reason for my complaint. I want to read a follow up story on what the investigation found. I have since contacted Pam Delissio, my state senator. So far, no response from her office either. So that makes two EPA agencies, a city councilman, and a state legisislator - not one of whom has bothered to respond to my concerns. It sure sounds like some sort of cover up to me at this point.

Well in that case, you are dumping waste into the creek every time you use the bathroom as well. That's all that's happening. The cancer patients use the bathroom and excrete I-131 in urine and feces. It's NOT dumping. How else are they supposed to use the bathroom? And I know first-hand because I had the treatment done. We are sent home and not required to collect our waste, which would be pretty gross. There was a spike at that time, but levels have returned to a baseline concentration, which isn't worrysome, so that's probably why no one is returning your calls. You are exposed to more radiation on a cross-country flight than you are drinking the water. And I-131 has a half life of 8 days which make detection difficult. And since it is in a flowing body of water it could have come from anywhere upstream. Look for the RadNET site to see what the levels are for yourself. And in the meantime, stop vilifying cancer patients, they have more pressing things to be concerned with...like beating cancer.

How could you ever infer that I was "vilifying cancer patients"! That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard! I've lost many family members from this horrible disease and regularly take part in cancer walks and fund raising. And why in the world you condone non-responses from the very political leaders we are supposed to trust? As for your so called readings, post a link. And THINK before you respond. I am doing this out of sicnere concern for OUR environment you idiot!

Yeah, yeah, sticks and stones. You’re a stranger on the Internet, so you can say whatever you want about me. It’s fine, because I’m still smarter than you.

I’m glad that you did a few walks and donated a few dollars, but I actually HAD thyroid cancer. And your comments are insulting and vilifying because they insinuate that thyroid cancer patients are (intentionally) harming the environment by simply trying to beat cancer.

Did you even do any research on I-131? What is the MCL? What are its potential harmful effects? How else can you be exposed to radiation? Are you a doctor? A scientist perhaps? Don’t get all riled up about a subject that you know nothing about. You sound like Chicken Little. There are also other potentially harmful substances in the water such as cyanide, chromium, and disinfection byproducts TTHMs and THAAs. Are you crying foul about those as well? Grow up and don’t be afraid of the world. There’s a little bit of something in everything.
http://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query_v2.simple_query
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-data-map.html

By the way, I'm done attempting to get through to you. I actually have a real job to do, which happens to be environmental protection. I work with one of the agencies involved in the matter. So when I say there's nothing to worry about, I know that is the case. But I'm an idiot, so don't listen to anything I say. Good luck with all your phone calls and letters.

My conceerns were addressed by Pam DeLissio, my state senator.