Following are EPA reported violations the year the book was written.
There were 8,522 violations for health-based standards reported by Water Supply Systems.
There were 1,922 Violations for Water Supply Systems failing to use proper techniques to remove contaminants.
There were 17,519 Violations for Water Supply Systems failure to monitor or submit a report on contaminants.
Did you know the EPA has 2 different contaminant levels
First Level “Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety and are non-enforceable public health goals.” (1)
Second Level: “The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) which is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology and taking cost into consideration”.
Did you pay attention to the wording regarding the First Level? it said it is the level at which there are no known expected risk to health is NOT an enforceable violation. The second level considers the cost involved in maintaining the First Level and in most cases allows the contaminant levels that are enforceable to be higher.
What do those violations mean?
“A health-based violation means that either a system has exposed their users to what EPA has judged as an unreasonable risk of illness, or a system has failed to treat their water to the extent EPA has judged necessary to protect their users from an unreasonable risk of illness in the event that the regulated contaminant is present in source water” (EPA) (4)
potential dangers of contaminants in drinking water.
“Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Children and infants, pregnant women and their fetuses, the frail elderly, people undergoing chemotherapy or living with HIV/AIDS, and transplant patients can be particularly at risk for infections… If you have special health care needs, consider taking additional precautions with your drinking water…” (EPA) (5)
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is the water safe "after" it's been treated at the facility?
During a conference, the EPA shared pictures of water towers with improper hatches and vents, allowing mice, snakes, birds and even feces into the water. Companies that clean the water towers have reported finding all those and more including finding up to 6 feet of sediment. Sediment can be a breeding ground for opportunistic pathogens. And keep in mind the water in those tanks is going directly to your kitchen faucet for drinking and cooking from those water towers. Still think your water is safe?
Almost everyone in the country has heard about the terrible lead problem in Flint, Michigan. But, the municipality water supply are not the only concern. People are shocked to learn homes built before the mid 1980s could have lead in the water pipes, right in their home.
The EPA data showed there was over 44,000 homes with lead in their water just in the state I live in. No area was immune to the problem. Homes ranged from smaller homes to some of the wealthiest areas in the state. By the way, homes built after the mid 1980s could still have lead in their water fixtures.
Is bottoled water the answer? Not always!
Here is just ONE shocking fact about bottled water: Bottled water is NOT regulated by the EPA, it is regulated by the FDA. While the EPA has regulations about E.coli in tap water, the FDA bottled water regulations DO NOT state that Bottled water can have NO confirmed E. coli or Fecal Coliform Bacteria. Think about that the next time you take a drink of bottled water. You must know, what bottled water uses what filtering process.
Bottled water is NOT regulated by the EPA. It is regulated by the FDA. While the EPA has regulations about E.coli in tap water, the FDA bottled water regulations DO NOT state that Bottled water can not have confirmed E. coli or Fecal Coliform Bacteria.
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Think about that the next time you take a drink of bottled water. You must know, what bottled water uses what filtering process.
"What’s in my Water” is a compilation from thousands of pages of data the author reviewed from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Center for Disease Control, the U. S. Department of Health, the American Journal of Public Health and others.
Learn the truth about the possible contaminants in your water and their effect on drinking, cooking, and even bathing. Learn the truth about Chlorine, Bottled water, Fluoride, Lead and more. There is even a chapter devoted specifically to residential water filtration systems. It’s not just how much water you drink, it's the quality of the water you drink.
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Here is an example of the power of the "What's in my water?" book. During a time when we were out of stock because of the printer being temporarily shut down due to Covid 19. "Used" copies of the book were being resold by "established" bookstores on Amazon for $55.
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