Troubled Waters - Part 1: Wyoming Neighborhood

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - Erin Brokovich is drawing attention to contaminated property in West Michigan -- potentially hazardous drinking water near the Birds Eye plant in Fennville, and a Coca-Cola plant in Paw Paw.

But a three-month 24 Hour News 8 investigation finds troubled waters flow beneath much of West Michigan -- often contaminated by chemicals known to cause cancer.

And, many residents know nothing about it -- despite state laws that require them to find out.

"Is this dirt bad?" asked Steven, who sat next to his aunt, Kim Kooienga, as she learned from a reporter that the property beneath her Wyoming home is contaminated by a carcinogen. "Because this summer, we were going to plant flowers and stuff."

Neighbors are now asking questions about health, property values, and vegetable gardens.

Thousands of pages of state environmental records, obtained by 24 Hour News 8 through the Freedom of Information Act, describe the scope of the pollution.

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