Millions of Americans Are Drinking Contaminated Water—and Don’t Even Know It.
According to Threats on Tap, there were more than 12,000 health-based violations in 5,000 water systems that served over 27 million people across the United States.
But lack of enforcement from the Environmental Protection Agency and state-level agencies, coupled with the deterioration of water infrastructure, has resulted in the standards of the SDWA not being met.
The NRDC documented health-based SDWA violations in every state and some territories.
Those violations included contamination from disinfectants that react adversely when added to water and nitrites from animal or human waste.
Because of loopholes in states’ reporting rules and the low number of contaminants identified as hazardous by the EPA, the report says its own data is likely understated.
There are multiple steps the EPA must take before it can legally adopt a new standard, but the agency lacks the resources and is often hamstrung by political opposition.
In January, prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the House passed legislation that would make it harder for the EPA and other agencies to create regulations that would safeguard public health.
Contaminants are not the only reason for drinking water’s dismal state in the United States.
Then there are the drinking-water plants, most of which use century-old technology for water treatment.