collectively reported traces of more than 300 pollutants in the public water supply since 2004. States the Environmental Working Group. If the U. S. doesn’ t crackdown on pollution, groundwater supplies and reservoirs will be threatened with dangerous contamination.
What can get into our water
A surprising fact about water quality is that drugs can get into our water. " After pharmaceuticals are ingested, they pass through the human body. While the body absorbs many of the drugs ' chemical components for therapeutic purposes, other chemicals contained in the drugs are discharged from the body in the form of urine or fecal matter. After this waste enters the sewage system, it is typically purified at a treatment plant to remove harmful bacteria. After it is treated, the filtered wastewater is pumped back into either groundwater( layers of rock that contain water that is drawn to the surface through wells) or surface water( streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs)— the country ' s two principal sources of drinking water. In many cases, water is even treated a second time to ensure it is healthy for human consumption before it re-enters the drinking water supply."(“ Tap Water Quality." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 19 Apr. 2010. Web. 7 May 2013.”) There have been toxic chemical pollutants emerging into our water. Lead can also get into our water from old pipes. Pollution is also a big part of why our water is dirty.
The people without clean water
You would be surprised about all of the people without safe drinking water. " In the early 21st century, more than 800 million people worldwide do not have access to uncontaminated drinking water."(" Tap Water Quality." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 19 Apr. 2010. Web. 7 May 2013.”) There are so many countries around the world without clean drinking water. In September 2009 there was schools in 27 states whose water is contaminated with lead and other toxic substances. " Most school districts do not test their water because of the costs associated with lead remediation."(“ Barclay, Eliza.