Understanding the Clean Waters Act
The CWA is the main law regulating surface water quality in the U.S., but it does not cover groundwater or water quantity concerns. Some states have created their own standards for these things. The statute uses different regulatory and non-regulatory methods to reduce direct pollutant discharges into waterways greatly, set ambient water quality standards, finance […]
Bill Introduced by Senator Aims to Guarantee Safe Drinking Water in Public Schools
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced Senate Bill 1144, the Safe and Efficient Water Act. This bill requires public schools and state agencies to conduct a water quality and efficiency assessment of their facilities. Essentially, this means that all school children in California will have access to clean water – something that far too many […]
Purifying Water During a Crisis
Your tap water may not be accessible or safe to use after an emergency, such as a water main break, hurricane, or flood. When it comes to avoiding illness from unsafe water, remember that in some cases boiling or filtering won’t be enough to make contaminated water safe for consumption. If you know or suspect […]
Unsafe Water Puts a Million Californians at Risk of Long-Term Health Issues
A new report warns that Californians could face long-term health problems, including liver and kidney damage as well as cancer, due to the consumption of polluted waters. The audit was highly critical of the State Water Resources Control Board, stating that it failed to act with enough urgency to address the state’s failing water systems. […]
Collapse in Water Systems Puts Rural America at Risk
A perfect storm of unsound agricultural regulation, dwindling populations, and old infrastructure is ravaging small water systems across rural America and endangering public health. In the United States, almost 60 thousand community water systems serve 93 percent of people living in areas with populations fewer than 10,000—67 percent serving populations of 500 or less. In […]
Facts and Controversies about Fracking
Fracking involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals at a rock layer in order to release the gas inside. The wells can be drilled vertically or horizontally. Horizontal drilling allows for more surface area to be exposed to the pressurized mixture, which fractures (or fracks) the rock […]
The Rising Crisis: Water Pollution
An expanding population, drought, and water inefficiency have all contributed to a freshwater crisis that is endangering our planet’s lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater sources, and eventually oceans. A range of pollutants from large pieces of garbage to invisible chemicals pollute these freshwater sources which we rely on for critical needs like drinking water. A recent […]
Protecting the Waters of the United States
Cities used to dump raw sewage in America’s rivers before the Clean Water Act. Chemical waste was discharged into streams, lakes, and oceans by industrial businesses. More than half of the country’s wetlands were destroyed since at least 1980 when records began. In the past 50 years, thanks to the Clean Water Act, our rivers […]
How Federal Institutions Follow the Clean Waters Act
The main federal law in charge of the improvement and upkeep of our nation’s waters is the Clean Waters Act (CWA). Its primary objective is to stop pollutants from being released into United States waters without a permit. According to CWA 301, it is illegal for anyone to release any type of pollutant into U.S […]
Drink Safely: How to Filter Water at Home!
Filtering your water is one of the best ways to ensure you’re only consuming clean water. While it may be easier to buy bottled water that’s already been filtered, you can save money in the long run by filtering it yourself. The method of filtration will likely depend on what impurities you’re hoping to remove […]
