Only apply to small number of chemicals that are produced in industrial processes
Many of these are only regulated by max contaminant level (MCLs) that are not enforceable, or else suggested treatment techniques (TTs)
Often dependent on slow process of science to come up with definitive measures
Loopholes protecting fracking industry, other industries that contaminated groundwater
Top six toxins of toxins
Chromium-6
Chloramines: water tx facilities switching from chlorine to this, which is cheaper and can cause leaching of lead pipes. AKA secondary disinfection
Lead
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs): from manufacturing of Teflon, fabric protectants, firefighting foams, etc.
Fracking chemicals: produces tons of toxic chemicals but exempt from all hazardous waste laws…
TCE: industrial solvent, used with refrigerants, drycleaning
Corporations seed scientific doubt by suppressing legitimate research and fabricating their own to avoid conclusions on safety
Can then avoid regulations and responsibility
Difficult to build national database of disease and environmental contamination bc HIPPA → community-organized Community Healthbook
Can identify clusters, map patterns among reports
Problem both with contamination of water and treatment
On contamination side: “innocent until proven guilty” approach → thousands of potentially hazardous chemicals enter water stream, and very difficult to produce studies that show exactly how dangerous they are (esp bc we are exposed to low quantities for long period of time, not one large dose)
Also, you can’t detect or monitor a chemical you’re not testing for…
On treatment side: protocols vary widely between facilities, standards for “safe drinking water” are basically meaningless
How your water is classified (ground vs surface) affects regulations it is under, but may lead to loopholes
Part 2: A Hopeful Future
Ohio req that water companies prove they cannot meet EPA regulations without chloramines before using them
You can’t assume elected officials know what they’re doing! Get involved in local politics, do your research, attend meetings, ask questions… run for office!
Politicians siding with fracking interests over public heslth
Fracking → man-made earthquakes
Fracking fluids and produced water (ancient seawater brought to the surface) must be properly handled or else contaminate waterways, soil
Many highly contaminated sites near military bases (incl near Dayton)
Power and water are closely linked
Power plants → high water demand, largest contributors of toxic pollution to US waters
Part 3: The Final Call
Water supply to cities rapidly falling with climate crisis — Cape Town approaching “Day Zero”
Groundwater, aquifers not carefully regulated → polluted, starting to run dry
Relevant top twelve actions for individuals to lower carbon emissions: live car-free, wash clothes in cold water, hang dry clothes