They give it a D. It’s a brutal assessment, but it needs to be a wake-up call for policymakers.
Access to clean drinking water is not a rural problem or a big city problem, it is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is a national emergency and we need to find solutions before it is too late.
It is one thing to see these terrible grades on paper, but what does this actually mean for people in their day-to-day lives?
Rogers resident Mike Frazee recently shared his story with the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife to give policymakers that real life insight.
I invited him to testify during a hearing to address problems with America’s water infrastructure system and possible funding and financing investment.
Whenever he sees someone hauling water for lack of access to a well or public water system, he stops them and tells them about the assistance options that are available.
Currently, an estimated 1.7 million Americans live without access to clean, running drinking water in their homes.
Our water infrastructure is a perfect place to start.
We have an Administration that has made infrastructure investment a top priority, coupled with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House.
Developing an infrastructure bill that directly addresses America’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure challenges must be a priority that Congress adopts and brings to fruition.

They give it a D. It’s a brutal assessment, but it needs to be a wake-up call for policymakers.
Access to clean drinking water is not a rural problem or a big city problem, it is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is a national emergency and we need to find solutions before it is too late.
It is one thing to see these terrible grades on paper, but what does this actually mean for people in their day-to-day lives?
Rogers resident Mike Frazee recently shared his story with the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife to give policymakers that real life insight.
I invited him to testify during a hearing to address problems with America’s water infrastructure system and possible funding and financing investment.
Whenever he sees someone hauling water for lack of access to a well or public water system, he stops them and tells them about the assistance options that are available.
Currently, an estimated 1.7 million Americans live without access to clean, running drinking water in their homes.
Our water infrastructure is a perfect place to start.
We have an Administration that has made infrastructure investment a top priority, coupled with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House.
Developing an infrastructure bill that directly addresses America’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure challenges must be a priority that Congress adopts and brings to fruition.

Operation Hydrate the Dawgs: UGA student starts program to provide clean water for those in need.
One of his many projects helped nearly 50 homeless people in downtown Athens, providing them with clean drinking water and other materials.
“We always think about what they need in the winter, but the summer can be just as bad, especially in Athens,” Akanmu said.
“I found out that they’re most at risk for dehydration, sunburn, athlete’s foot, bug bites and starvation.
Akanmu recruited a team through social media, asking people to help him with his plan to help the homeless community in Athens.
Mary Margaret Hansen, a junior social work major, and Jennifer Williams, a junior journalism and geography major, offered to contribute, as well as pass out materials with him.
“I actually didn’t know Foley before we did this project with him,” Hansen said.
Akanmu asked each person he met while passing out the bags a series of five questions.
“Some of the people would actually give the stuff to people in other homeless communities that were worse off than they are,” Akanmu said.
“They’re very close knit, they know each other, and most of them are always willing to help each other out.” While most people accepted the clean socks and water, both Hansen and Akanmu said they were surprised by how many people declined the materials.

Operation Hydrate the Dawgs: UGA student starts program to provide clean water for those in need.
One of his many projects helped nearly 50 homeless people in downtown Athens, providing them with clean drinking water and other materials.
“We always think about what they need in the winter, but the summer can be just as bad, especially in Athens,” Akanmu said.
“I found out that they’re most at risk for dehydration, sunburn, athlete’s foot, bug bites and starvation.
Akanmu recruited a team through social media, asking people to help him with his plan to help the homeless community in Athens.
Mary Margaret Hansen, a junior social work major, and Jennifer Williams, a junior journalism and geography major, offered to contribute, as well as pass out materials with him.
“I actually didn’t know Foley before we did this project with him,” Hansen said.
Akanmu asked each person he met while passing out the bags a series of five questions.
“Some of the people would actually give the stuff to people in other homeless communities that were worse off than they are,” Akanmu said.
“They’re very close knit, they know each other, and most of them are always willing to help each other out.” While most people accepted the clean socks and water, both Hansen and Akanmu said they were surprised by how many people declined the materials.

Water is everywhere in Douala.
The city is known for low water table which often leads to flood events during wet seasons in most neighbourhoods.
This scenario to most residents in the Madasgascar neighbourhood is better imagined than experienced.
Well-to-do families buy drinking water in containers from youths who fetch from distant neighbourhoods on two wheels truck or wheelbarrows.
The street running down beside the residence of the quarter head is often lined up with containers, waiting for the youths.
Twenty litres of the mineral is sold between FCFA 300 and 400 and 10 litres FCFA 200 or FCFA 150 depending on the distance.
Most of the neighbourhood is not connected to tap water.
Taps run dry even in other neighbourhoods.
He attributed water scarcity to global warming, galloping urbanisation and high water consumption for agricultural use, that the available water if good techniques and equipments are employed for treatment can be fit for drinking.
Two-thirds of the Cameroon population doesn’t have access to potable water, one-third in Douala has access to tap water but there is intense contamination from underground water, he noted.

Legislation would provide a significant increase in funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System project, which when completed will cover a service territory of more than 5,000 square miles and provide drinking water to 300,000 residents and businesses in southwest Minnesota U.S. Sens.
Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Al Franken, D-MN, have joined Senators Jon Tester, D-MT, and Steve Daines, R-MT, in the introduction of a bipartisan bill that would invest in critical Minnesota rural water infrastructure projects.
The Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act will invest $80 million annually for the next 20 years to construct and upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Minnesota and across the country.
The legislation would provide a significant increase in funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System project, which when completed will cover a service territory of more than 5,000 square miles and provide drinking water to 300,000 residents and businesses in southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota.
The project is currently 67 percent complete and the three states have prepaid 100 percent of the non-federal cost share.
“Rural water projects play an essential role in providing reliable and safe drinking water to communities across the country,” Klobuchar said.
“This legislation will ensure the Lewis and Clark water project is funded to completion—boosting the economic development and well-being of southwest Minnesota.” “Investing in our rural water infrastructure improves access to clean drinking water while creating a lot of good jobs for working families,” Franken said.
“For years, I’ve fought for funding to finish the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, which would improve local economies across southwest Minnesota.
And this bill would help the project get across the finish line.
We need to get this water—and the economic development benefits that it would bring—flowing to businesses and communities in the region.

The city is known for low water table which often leads to flood events during wet seasons in most neighbourhoods.
This scenario to most residents in the Madasgascar neighbourhood is better imagined than experienced.
Well-to-do families buy drinking water in containers from youths who fetch from distant neighbourhoods on two wheels truck or wheelbarrows.
The street running down beside the residence of the quarter head is often lined up with containers, waiting for the youths.
Twenty litres of the mineral is sold between FCFA 300 and 400 and 10 litres FCFA 200 or FCFA 150 depending on the distance.
She earns FCFA 30,000.
Most of the neighbourhood is not connected to tap water.
Taps run dry even in other neighbourhoods.
He attributed water scarcity to global warming, galloping urbanisation and high water consumption for agricultural use, that the available water if good techniques and equipments are employed for treatment can be fit for drinking.
Two-thirds of the Cameroon population doesn’t have access to potable water, one-third in Douala has access to tap water but there is intense contamination from underground water, he noted.

Tidal Creek Co-op wants to provide clean water for Wilmington.
The co-op plans to purchase a reverse osmosis filtration system for DREAMS of Wilmington, which is located on the north side of downtown.
Although the company that builds the filters, National Water Services Inc., claims these reverse osmosis filtration systems can remove emerging chemicals like GenX from the water, evidence or independent verification that its system is capable of doing so has not been provided.
“Alternatively, public water systems can treat source water with activated carbon or high pressure membrane systems (e.g., reverse osmosis) to remove PFOA and PFOS from drinking water.” While the EPA stands behind their report, they stopped short of saying these filtration systems can specifically remove GenX from the water, saying, “The EPA has looked at the treatability of PFOA and PFOS, but has not evaluated any data on the treatment of GenX.” Despite this, these reverse osmosis carbon filtration systems, like the one at Tidal Creek are highly effective for removing many dangerous chemicals and other toxins that are in the water.
According to the EPA, surface runoff dissolves naturally occurring minerals on it’s way to our water sources.
While that’s not necessarily a problem, some of the other materials it picks up along the way is.
The EPA says that surface runoff can contain a wide range of toxins, including radioactive material, human and animal waste, microbial bacteria, viruses, metals, pesticides, herbicides, as well as synthetic and volatile organic substances that are the result of industrial waste.
That would allow the co-op to install this system at DREAMS, then repeat the process somewhere else.
“We’re taking action because we haven’t seen them do so, and we’re hoping to send the message that people are really concerned, and that people need clean water as a right, not a privilege.” Paul said that in the end, Tidal Creek would like to unite all the separate organizations who are working toward a sustainable water solution across the area.
“If all of those groups came and purchased that water from our bulk systems, not only would they be able to donate clean water to the people, but then all of those proceeds would go to a sustainable solution to a really large sector of the population.” For more information, and to find out how you can get involved, visit the Tidal Creek website at tidalcreek.coop, contact Shayla Paul at shaylah@tidalcreek.coop, or call (910)799-2667 ext.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) With thousands without water, for hours, hydration is a big concern for people in Emporia and surrounding areas and drinking water is a necessary part of all of our daily lives.
The CDC said water is also essential in keeping your body temperature normal, lubricating joints, protecting your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and to get rid of bodily wastes.
There are some basic signs to know whether or not you’re dehydrated.
So what do you do to stay hydrated when there’s no water?
Dr. Elliott said the best thing you can do is stay indoors.
keep your air conditioning running.
“Keep your windows and shades closed.
Avoid any excessive activities, particularly something outside.
The only thing to keep in mind is those contain a lot of sugar.” Play Video Play Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Remaining Time -0:00 This is a modal window.

Tests find no detectable levels of toxins in drinking water.
Tests on drinking water revealed no detectable traces of arsenic and lead after the toxins were found in groundwater at a coal-fired power plant in Tennessee, a utility company said Thursday.
Memphis, Light, Gas & Water said in a statement that tests conducted by an independent lab on 10 wells that supply water to a pumping station near the Allen Fossil Plant came up below detectable limits for the toxins.
The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation asked the utility to test water at the pumping station after excessive levels of arsenic and lead were found in wells that monitor pollution from coal ash ponds at the Allen plant, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Memphis, Light, Gas & Water said initial test results had some traces of lead in two of the 10 wells at the pumping plant.
Spokesman Scott Brooks said the TVA, the nation’s largest public utility, doesn’t know the source of the toxins and is cooperating with state’s instructions.
The Sierra Club demanded for tests to be done after high levels of toxins at the Allen plant were revealed last week.
The Sierra Club and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, have expressed concerns about the deep aquifer wells the TVA plans to use to cool the new gas plant.
"The operation of these high-powered wells in such close proximity to these materials that are contaminating our shallow aquifer could lead to contamination of the Memphis Sand, should there be any holes or breaches in the clay in the vicinity, which we just don’t know," Banbury said in a phone interview.
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