Clean Water In The United States

Water contamination is vastly becoming an alarming issue across the world. We rely on clean water to survive, yet right now we are heading towards a water crisis. Changing climate patterns are threatening lakes and rivers, and key sources that we tap for drinking water are being overdrawn or tainted with pollution (www.nrdc.org). Clean and plentiful water is the cornerstone of prosperous communities. Yet as we enter the 21st century, swelling demand and changing climate patterns are

All the inhabitants of Flint communities regardless of their location had irreversible, permanent brain damage due to lead-contaminated water. It started when traces of E. coli and total coliform were found in the Flint River. The city addressed this problem by increasing chlorine levels in the water, causing the pipes to corrode, releasing lead into the waters. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) were also formed in the water (they are carcinogenic to humans).TTHM is a disinfection byproduct that occur when chlorine interacts with organic matter in the water. At this stage, The lead levels in the water was 13,200 ppb. Water is considered hazardous waste at 5,000ppb (NPR 2016). This tragedy goes to show that this toxic runoff, or even the miss-handling of the water resources in a watershed can affect everyone as the downstream water was piped up into the upstream communities.

Water is one of life’s most precious resources. Without it, life as we know it would cease to exist. Almost all life is dependent on water for survival. Humanity uses water in almost everything they do in their daily lives, whether that be for consumption or production. However water itself is not enough to sufice, clean water is required for life to thrive. Dirty untreated water can be the cause for death as well, so it is integral that water be kept clean. The government has enacted laws to ensure that our water is maintained and kept clean. These laws cover industries, plumbing, and sanitation among other things. Unfortunately, the city government in Flint Michigan willfully failed to provide safe water for its citizens.

In Flint Michigan, nearly 100,000 residents are drinking lead contaminated water. (QuickFacts). We are not discussing a third world country on the other side of the globe, but rather a city in the United States. It would seem as though the land of opportunity, and the land many flee too should be able to provide clean drinking water. However, in the United States 310,000 children aged 1-5 are found with an unsafe level of lead running through their blood stream. (Lead 8). In Flint alone, 8,000 children under the age of six have been exposed to harmful levels of lead. The agencies and government that was put into place to protect the public from these issues is often turning a blind eye, and often allowing the public to continue to drink this contaminated water. A major part of the problem is that lead water pipes run throughout cities across the United States. Although it would very expensive to replace all the water pipes running through Flint, not replacing the pipes could potentially continue to do more harm to the ecosystems, and to the communities they are in. (rst2)

In the fourth chapter, “Fouling Our Own Nests,” of Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What to do About It, Robert Glennon discusses the dangers of water contamination that plague many parts of the United States. His main claim that water pollution requires the help of the entire population stems from an unmentioned warrant: contaminating the national water supply with chemicals from individual communities and industries is detrimental to American society. In order to strengthen his argument, Glennon showcases the impacts of local contamination issues on larger populations and utilizes quantitatively intimidating statistics to solidify his position and inspire his readers to fight for better water regulation.

There is a water crisis which faces many parts of the world and it is a threat to survival of human beings since humans are primarily dependent on water. Shortage in drinking water is beginning to show its effects in first world countries, but is a current major problem facing lesser developed countries which have not taken drastic steps to harvest water and purify it to make it safe for human consumption. In developed countries the population growth has strained available water resources and stretched the ability of governments and private firms to provide safe drinking water to the vast majority of the population. Seventy one percent of

Some areas of the world are already considered water stressed. In areas that are water stressed, the amount of sustainable water is running low. The people in these regions are in need of new and clean water to start being present. According to Roberts, “By 2050 more than half the world’s

How much water do you use on a daily basis? Well, these people are tired of farmers using up all the water because of the fact that when they run out of water, they are unable to take showers and/or use the bathroom. Farmers say that they need way more water to grow the food on their farms. It is obvious to the common person that they should have regulations on water.

As a mere second-grader I remember learning the definition of ‘essential’, along with a list of items essential to the human body, one of those items being water. Living on a planet that consists of approximately 71 percent water, it only makes sense that each of Earth’s inhabitants have access to water. Unfortunately not everything that makes sense is realistic. Many third world countries have little to no access to water and in America we have experienced several issues of water contamination. The most recent and tragic incident involving water contamination occurred in Flint, Michigan. Due to economic issues government officials switched to a cheaper water resource that was known to be very dirty. Officials failed to adhere to federal policy in treating the new water source, sending lead and iron filled water into the homes of thousands causing several cases of lead poisoning. Although I've never experienced a full blown water crisis the incident in Flint troubles me.

Collectively the United States is ranked as the greatest consumers of water worldwide; a startling fact for a country that cannot support its own unrivaled demands (Barlow, 2007). The United States is now crucially dependent on nonrenewable groundwater for a staggering 50% of its daily water usage (Barlow, 2007). In addition to such formidable numbers, citizens of the United States use and waste up 80-100 gallons or 454 liters of water per day (Perlman, 2009). The United States simply doesn’t possess enough fresh water or renewable sources of water to keep up with its gross demands. Nearly 40% of U.S waters are deemed unsafe for recreational activities such as fishing and even swimming

Water is essential for of life. It 's difficult for most of us to imagine that clean water is not something that can be taken for granted, we just open the tap and here it is safe, clean and fresh water. But this won 't be the case forever, in some countries, finding a reliable source of safe water is often time-consuming, in other countries they spend too much money to drink water form plastic bottles and yet we still taking it for granted and waste it even more.

In the article "The Drinking Water security and Safety Amendments of 2002: is America's Drinking Water Infrastructure Safer Four Years later?", Steven Shermer discusses the importance of protecting America’s drinking water systems from potential threats. Shermer begins by discussing the importance of water as well as the importance of protecting

Water is necessary to sustain life, but not all water is safe for drinking. Unclean water helps to spread pathogenic diseases. It is especially dangerous in less populated areas where purified water may not be readily available. In these areas, it may fall on the responsibility of the individual to find their own water. People can collect water from streams, rivers, or lakes. The water from these sources, however, is considered unprotected and cannot be consumed right away. Unprotected water sources can easily become contaminated and are unfit for drinking. That is why this water has to be put through purification methods to withdraw all bacteria, chlorine, nitrates, and phosphates in the water. If a person consumes contaminated drinking water

Few resources are essential to human survival. Access to clean water is the most critical of all. Water is a vital resource responsible for sustaining all life on earth. However, clean water is in short supply, but in high demand in all parts of the world. It is thought that most Americans have access to safe, affordable, clean water right from their taps. However, the media is uncovering the true nature of America’s deteriorating water situation. Americans have reason to be seriously concerned about the state of their drinking water. So what really is on tap in America?

These initiatives of people who are looking to ensure safe water is continuously looked over by larger groups of people and acts such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Safe Drinking Water Act, and even people like the Natural resources Conservation Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. What people sometimes forget is that under these acts, while there are people who are looking to help support these initiatives, the people who embrace the world must practice better strategies that will embrace these acts and support groups to help ensure that water will be safe for drinking. Many people forget that water is not just a free good to us for use at any time, because if the water supply were to ever be completely damaged and polluted, the outreach for fresh, safe water to drink would be minimal, therefore a struggle for people in America as well as around the world. Water is arguably the most important natural resource to us here on Earth and should not be used and abused. There are several different things that people can work towards to help make things better.