The Flint water crisis of 2014 is still unresolved, and this new water problem, which afflicts other states as well, forces us to ask the uncomfortable question: Is our government truly committed to ensuring clean drinking water for the public?
The latest disaster involves chemicals known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) or what are commonly called “forever chemicals,” and are found in a wide variety of products including cosmetics, non-stick pans, firefighting foams, and food packaging.
While several big producers agreed over a decade ago to phase out their use of the chemicals, of course, the toxic substances persist.
Governor Rick Snyder declared an emergency in at least one Michigan community, and more site investigations are underway.
This latest water crisis in Michigan is just more evidence that the nation’s water supply needs to be given more attention by government officials.
Nationally, the Trump administration continues a brazen attack on existing clean water laws that could also impact the sanctity of water supplies.
The former agency administrator, Scott Pruitt worked diligently while in office to gut the EPA’s Clean Water Rule, established in 2015 under the Obama administration.
Some courts have resisted the Trump Administration’s efforts to decimate the nation’s clean water rules.
In the other states, litigation and injunctions against the rule continue to delay full implementation of the 2015 rule and still endanger our clean water laws.
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