BOSTON, Mass. (9/17/1009) -- Americans are drinking polluted water…In recent years, violations of the Clean Water Act have risen across the United States, The New York Times reported on September 12, 2009. Family health is now compromised in areas of the country where clean water used to be the status quo. No, people are forced to “think before they drink.”
Jennifer Hall-Massey’s family lives outside of Charleston, West Virginia, where the bath water that she bathes her two young boys in is contaminated with lead, nickel, and other heavy metals that cause rashes, burns, and eats away at tooth enamel.
Although many of the chemical factories and manufacturing plants have admitted to causing the contamination, very few of these violators have been held accountable for their actions. In fact, most have completely escaped punishment.
The new EPA administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, told the NYT that the Clean Water Act of 1972 is no longer sufficient legislation and strengthening water protections is one of her top priorities.
Original NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13water.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1253287007-WUIC0JgT4Kcd662pGzQs4g
By Catherine Moore, camoore@bu.edu