Clean drinking water is a basic right, right?

I just listened to journalist Charles Duhigg, report on the "worsening pollution in American waters" — and regulators' responses to the problem on NPR.

It is an interesting and informative interview on the breakdown of the changing nature of water pollution.

He reported on many current issues concerning drinking water. I know the Water Wise Guy team blogged on the New York Times "Toxic Waters" section previously, however the interest in toxic drinking water is still incredibly high. The following issues he reported on are worth noting:

• 1 in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking contaminated water-- water that contains dangerous chemicals, parasites, bacteria or viruses, or fails to meet federal health standards.
• Unknowingly drinking toxic water causes chemicals to accumulate in the cells of your body— and can take years for anything to show, eventually becoming a cancer.
• Millions of gallons of cow manure waste acts as fertilizer, but if the amounts are excessive, bacteria and chemicals can flow into the ground and contaminate residents’ tap water. In a small farm town in Wisconsin, more than 100 wells were polluted by agricultural runoff.

Duhigg doesn't provide easy answers, but does give us a better idea of what questions we should be asking.

Another reminder to be proactive about drinking water for you and your family.

Well Testing Urged By American Academy of Pediatrics

The June issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is urging people to test private wells, since different bacteria and contaminants can be very harmful to children.

“Drinking water for roughly one-sixth of U.S. households comes from private wells, of which there is little regulation. With proper care, well water is extremely safe. However, these wells can become contaminated by chemicals or pathogenic organisms.” – AAP (http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/june09wellwater.htm )

Furthermore, the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act, which regulates all drinking water systems does not apply to private wells serving less than 25 people.

Consult your local Culligan water expert about getting your well tested. The Culligan Man is familiar and respected when it comes to home water solutions.