Water Toxicity Wars: How to Start the Change With You

If you want to ensure the safety of your water supply, you can’t solely rely on the federal agencies to protect you. It has to start with you.

When it comes to the purity and safety of our water supply, we can’t solely rely on different federal agencies to protect our health and our environment.

As what Erin Brockovich says on the future of water, “Superman is not coming.” It’s us who should initiate the change. Everyone should make a stand.

The Flint, Michigan case

It was in July 2014 when Melissa Mays, a resident of Flint, Michigan, started noticing something wrong in their water supply. At first, the water coming out from their taps started to become yellow and smell like either rotten eggs, dirt, or bleach.

After that, they started experiencing the adverse effects of their water to their health. Their pet cat started to lose its fur. Then, the whole family started to suffer from bumpy, lumpy rashes that even an eczema cream couldn’t heal or at least soothe.

Mays’ kids also started to complain of muscle and bone pain. Because of their contaminated water, Mays has now become ANA (antinuclear antibodies) positive. Her DNA was damaged, making the antibodies attack her brains, liver, etc.

All these disasters, experienced by other Flint residents as well, were because of the dangerous levels of copper, lead, and other toxins in Flint’s water supply. So in 2015, Mays started the change to reconnect Flint to Detroit’s water system.

Thanks to the voice of local activists, on March 17, 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a press release saying they’ll focus on helping Michigan improve the water infrastructure in Flint. The agency also awarded a $100-M grant to its Department of Environmental Quality.

…Go with your gut. Because when you think there’s something wrong, that's because there probably is. And you can stand up against the government. It doesn&'t matter what your background is. You can make a difference and make your voice heard…

– Melissa Mays, Flint resident, now founder of Water You Fighting For

The Hannibal water controversy

In 2015, residents of Hannibal, Missouri started to voice out their concerns over the Board of Public Works (BPW)'s use of chloramine as a disinfectant in their water supply. Using chloramine, a corrosive combination of chlorine and ammonia, as a water disinfectant can cause water pipes to leach out manganese, iron, and high levels of lead.

Because the residents and Erin Brockovich took a stand in Hannibal's fight against the use of chloramine in disinfecting Hannibal's water supply, BPW and its engineers vowed to look into it and use safer alternatives for chloramine that same year.

…We have to stop thinking it's going to trickle down from the top. It&'s going to have to begin with you in your backyard, at your city council. The change is going to come from the people, just like in Flint and Hannibal.

– Erin Brockovich, a well-known consumer advocate, and titular activist

The reality of water toxicity

If the Flint and Hannibal water controversies happened, how can we be sure that the water supplied in our homes is safe and free from contaminants? Can we trust what the government standards say about how "safe" a chemical level is?

“Water has become a repository for industrial waste. There are hundreds of toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals in our water supply. People are being misled to believe that drinking water is safe because it meets government standards. The notion that the EPA’s allowable concentration levels of toxic contaminants in your drinking water are “safe” is a myth. If a certain chemical or heavy metal such as chromium 6 is present in trace amounts and you drink this water over an extended period, it accumulates in your body which contributes to a chronic health disorder.”

– Dr. Roy Speiser, water quality specialist at Clean Water Revival

If you notice any concerns in your water supply, never hesitate to ask for a water quality report from your supplier or municipality. This way, you’ll know which water filters to install at home to ensure clean, safe water for your whole household.

For your water filtration concerns, call CWR Enviro at 1-772-919-8700 or 1-800-444-3563 today.