Tuesday, December 8, 2009

"Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08water.html

"More than 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years, according to a New York Times analysis of federal data."

"Regulators were informed of each of those violations as they occurred. But regulatory records show that fewer than 6 percent of the water systems that broke the law were ever fined or punished by state or federal officials, including those at the Environmental Protection Agency, which has ultimate responsibility for enforcing standards."

"...for hundreds of other systems, illegal contamination persisted for years, records show."

"An analysis of E.P.A. data shows that Safe Drinking Water Act violations have occurred in parts of every state. In the prosperous town of Ramsey, N.J., for instance, drinking water tests since 2004 have detected illegal concentrations of arsenic, a carcinogen, and the dry cleaning solvent tetrachloroethylene, which has also been linked to cancer."

“The previous eight years provide a perfect example of what happens when political leadership fails to act to protect our health and the environment,” [EPA spokeswoman Adora] Andy added."

1 comment:

Maulik said...

I knew it Ryan, that you are gonna find this article! Dont let wells haunt you.