By Neil Heinen
Editorial Director

You can drink the water in the city of Madison. All the water, from all the wells.

For as much heat as the city took for its handling of the recent tests showing unacceptably high levels of manganese in a few city wells -- and when it comes to communication some of the criticism was well-deserved -- so now must we give the city credit for quickly rectifying the problem. And so the health advisory from residents near two city wells nos. 10 and 3 have been lifted. The city's program of increased, high-velocity flushing of pipes in the affected well areas worked.

We believe valuable lessons were learned here and the communications problems will not be repeated. More importantly, we all had an opportunity to reflect on the importance of our drinking water and how much we depend on safe water.

nd ultimately the city responded appropriately and we believe has put new safeguards in place. What matters most is our drinking water is now safe and clean and drinkable.

What do you think? Give your two cents in Channel 3000's TALKBACK section.