More Than 5,000 U.S. Water Systems Violated Lead-Testing Rules Last Year

[Purveyor]

Source: Washington Post

If you think Flint, Mich., is the only place in the United States threatened by lead-contaminated water, think again.

The beleaguered city continues to grapple with the fallout of a drinking-water crisis that exposed its residents -- including 9,000 children 6 and younger -- to a toxic substance that can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems and other serious health issues. But while Flint might be an extreme example, a report released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council details how many other communities around the country are failing to adequately ensure that their water supplies remain free of lead.

The report, which analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency, found that nearly 18 million Americans are served by 5,126 water systems that in 2015 violated the federal rules governing lead testing. The violations included failures to properly monitor for lead, treat water to reduce corrosion in pipes or report testing results to the public or to regulators.

And the report found that despite those 7,783 documented violations of the EPA's "Lead and Copper Rule," the agency took a formal enforcement action in only 907 cases. "This lack of accountability sends a clear message to water suppliers. ... There is no cop on the beat," the NRDC authors write.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/06/28/more-than-5000-u-s-water-systems-violated-lead-testing-rules-last-year/

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Our Drinking Water Regulation Is So Weak Even Flint’s Water Gets A Pass

WASHINGTON — Federal drinking water rules are so relaxed that not even the city of Flint, Michigan, has been cited for a violation, even though many Flint residents have been relying on bottled water for drinking and cooking since last year.

The Natural Resources Defense Council said Tuesday that 18 million Americans got water from systems that violated federal standards last year, according to federal data.

And the environmental advocacy group said an untold number of water systems break the rules without landing in the Environmental Protection Agency’s database of water regulation goofs — including Flint.

“Flint’s absence in the federal data system raises the question: If Flint’s extraordinary lead contamination problems are not included in the EPA’s official compliance data,” the NRDC’s report says, “how many other municipalities’ serious lead problems are being swept under the rug by officials responsible for protecting public health?”

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/flint-water-lead_us_57727d8be4b0f168323ae089

[BumRushDaShow]

1. The GOP keeps trying to get rid of the EPA. nt

[Journeyman]

2. A few years ago, water agencies were given the OK to distribute their Consumer Confidence Report. .

the annual accounting of the quality of their water, to residents via the internet. Prior to this, it was mailed to each home. Now, hidden on the internet (for truly, how many people actually go looking for obscure documents they are given little notice about), these useful tools have lost much of their impact. Too many people are unaware this information is even available, let alone that they can demand accounting from their water provider.