Posted by Floralyn Teodoro on May 11th 2017
Contaminated Water Endangers Nearly 77 Million Americans Today
The water crisis nearly 70 million Americans face today endangers their health and puts them at risk of cancer, lead poisoning, birth defects, liver and kidney damage, and other serious health issues.
According to a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), nearly one in four Americans’ get their drinking water from untested or contaminated systems. Nearly 77 million people across all 50 states of the U.S. were supplied with water that carries violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2015.
In 2015 alone, more than 80,000 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) were reported by community water systems that supply water to nearly 77 million Americans. Included in these health-based violations are improper water testing, monitoring and reporting; and arsenic, lead, and nitrate contamination.
The Top U.S. States with the most violations
Those living in small rural communities with a population of around 500 people have higher risks of being supplied with contaminated water by untested or contaminated water supply systems. However, all across the U.S., here are the top states with the most water offenses and violations.
- Texas
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Georgia
- Washington
- Ohio
- California
- Arizona
- Kentucky
- Wisconsin
- Maryland
The 12 SDWA violations across the U.S.
After the lead contamination of Flint’s water supply, Americans have been more curious of what lurks in their drinking water and their taps. It’s not only lead we should be alarmed about. Here are the 12 Safe Drinking Water Act rules violated by our water systems across the U.S. that put us and our health in danger.
- Combined Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rules
# of violations: 11, 311
Formal enforcement measures taken: 12.4% of all cases - Total Coliform Rule
# of violations: 10, 261
Formal enforcement measures taken: 8.8% of all cases - Combined Surface, Ground Water, and Filter Backwash Rules
# of violations: 5, 979
Formal enforcement measures taken: 13.7% of all cases - Nitrites and Nitrates Rule
# of violations: 1, 529
Formal enforcement measures taken: 11.3% of all cases - Lead and Copper Rule
# of violations: 8, 044
Formal enforcement measures taken: 12.0% of all cases - Radionuclides Rule
# of violations: 2, 297
Formal enforcement measures taken: 11.7% of all cases - Arsenic Rule
# of violations: 1, 537
Formal enforcement measures taken: 28.9% of all cases - Synthetic Organic Contaminants Rule
# of violations: 6, 864
Formal enforcement measures taken: 7.3% of all cases - Inorganic Contaminants Rule
# of violations: 1, 505
Formal enforcement measures taken: 5.2% of all cases - Volatile Organic Contaminants Rule
# of violations: 10, 383
Formal enforcement measures taken: 6.1% of all cases - Public Notification Rule
# of violations: 13, 202
Formal enforcement measures taken: 10.3% of all cases - Right to Know (“Consumer Confidence”) Report Rule
# of violations: 7, 906
Formal enforcement measures taken: 10.3% of all cases
Among the many ill-effects of the above SDWA violations are cancer, miscarriages, birth defects, gastrointestinal distress, developmental defects, pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney issues, and a lot more.
Despite the dangers and health risks of these violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, only 3.3% were subject to formal action and financial penalties. According to the NRDC, in the total of 80,834 violations, only 10,575 had formal enforcement actions, and only 2,698 had penalties assessed.
What you can do about your water supply
Looking at the above facts and figures, you need to do something yourself to ensure the safety of your water supply. You can’t solely depend on the government or the federal agencies to protect you against contaminated water.
If you start to notice any issue or concern in your water supply, feel free to request a water quality report from your supplier. Investing in a home water filtration system will also be a good investment for your family’s safety.
You can do something to spare your family from the growing number of Americans affected by the dangers of water contamination.
For all your water filtration concerns, call 1-772-919-8700 or 1-800-444-3563 or click here to get your FREE water consultation.