ABOUT
Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.
DONATE TO EWG TODAY
We need you to help protect your health and environment! Please donate $5 to EWG today.
GET EWG'S TIPS & ACTION ALERTS
Sign Up here to receive email updates and tips from EWG and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you.
Get EWG widgets & blog badges.
ENVIROBLOG TO YOU
ENVIROBLOG VIA EMAIL
Cell Phone Radiation Blog Series - All In One Place
Rubber Ducky: You're so not the one
Epigenetics hits the mainstream
Cosmetics Safety Series - Part 2: Mind the (data) gap
SEARCH ENVIROBLOG
FEATURED
Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?
Cell phone radiation series - Part 2: 8 Ways to reduce your exposure
Infant formula: How to choose it & use it
EWG's Tips for Parents: The Series
EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure
Let's talk some serious shop about TSCA reform
EWG on TV
Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill
Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water
Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen
BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics
What can I do about fluoride in my water?
What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?
Are stainless steel water bottles safe?
Is mineral-based makeup safer?
PEOPLE TALKING TOXICS
TALK TO US
Did we miss something? Email Enviroblog.
« NBC Nightly News talks cell phone radiation | Main | What's going on with toxic chemicals in cosmetics? »
Water pollution free-for-all
Like most kids, mine love bathtime. And while I take care to avoid the toxic chemicals in some bath products by making careful choices, at least I don't have to worry about the safety of the water itself. As it should be.
But that's very much not the case for the Hall-Massey family of West Virginia. Quite the contrary, they do have to worry about the safety of the water itself. So much so that the kids take super-quick baths and they buy and truck in water that they store in big barrels on the porch. Today? In America?
This family's very unsafe drinking water is chronicled by the New York Times in the second article (and compelling video) in its important series on the increasing pollution in American waters. As Mrs. Hall-Massey says so well:
"How can we get digital cable and Internet in our homes, but not clean water? ... How is this still happening today?"
How is this still happening today?
Mrs. Hall-Massey's question is easily answered: the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act are being violated significantly and routinely, and the violators are simply not being punished.
According to the NYT's investigation, state officials fined or otherwise punished fewer than 3 percent of Clean Water Act violations. And when there are more than 506,000 Clean Water Act violations by more than 23,000 companies and other facilities, 97% unpunished violations means something.
How does your water compare?
The Hall-Massey's downright dangerous water problems (which you can watch on video here) may seem extreme. But are they? Thanks to the New York Times, you can see how many water violations there are in your area and what is - or isn't - being done about it.
You can find water polluters near you here and see how violations are being handled here. It is important to have access to this information, but unfortunate that it tells a story of abuse, very weak enforcement, and ultimately, unsafe drinking water.
Get our Guide to Safe Drinking Water
When I get bad news, I want to do something about it. If you do, too, check out our short guide to safe drinking water to see what steps you can take to improve yours.
Your first step should be reading your water supplier's water quality report - or testing your well - so you know what you're working with. Our top tip for tap water? Filter it. Here's how:
- Carbon filters (pitcher or tap-mounted) are affordable and reduce many common water contaminants, like lead and byproducts of the disinfection process used to treat municipal tap water.
- Install a reverse osmosis filter if you can afford it, to remove contaminants that carbon filters can't eliminate, like arsenic and perchlorate (rocket fuel).
I would love it if the EWG would look at the different whole-house and under-sink carbon filtration systems and give us all some guidance on which are best . . . there are plenty of options out there and it's a mystery whether they perform the way their promoters say they do . . . .
The poor water quality may be a shock to most people, but not to those working in the industry. What is shocking is that only 3% of violations are punished! This has to change. Good advice about what people can do for themselves, install water filters for drinking water.
Good information here! Less than 1% of the fresh water is available for human use and yet we cause harm to it by polluting and wasting it. We need to minimize the wastage of water. For tips on conserving water, visit http://j.mp/st4p2