Sandy City Council Likely To Launch Investigation Into Water Contamination

SANDY, Utah – Frustrations continued over a water malfunction that leached significantly dangerous levels of chemicals into thousands of residents’ drinking water.

Sandy City leaders announced at a Monday night town hall meeting that they will be hiring independent investigators to look into the water quality crisis. About 100 residents showed up to the meeting to voice their frustrations about the elevated fluoride levels that led to the contamination.

A city council meeting, slated for 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at Sandy City Hall, is expected to draw many of the same residents who attended Monday’s meeting. The council said it’s hoping to get input from citizens before they launch their own investigation.

“We hope they attend,” said the council’s executive director, Mike Applegarth. “The town hall that the mayor establishes is a great venue for people to communicate their concerns to the mayor and his staff. As a separate branch of government, the city council’s precluded from discussing or taking action on anything that’s not on a publicly-noticed agenda. So we need them to come out tonight and give us their thoughts and emotion.”

He said the potential independent investigation could be investigation and focus on many aspects of the issue, from the chronology of events to the initial contamination to how the city handled public notification.

“It really depends on what the residents think is best,” he said.