On Saturday an underwater volcano erupted violently, causing tsunamis, in the south pacific. The powerful tsunamis hit Hawaii, Japan, and Tongatapu, Tonga’s largest island, sending flood waves into the capital.
We drink water every day, but have you ever noticed that the water we drink sometimes tastes different. Some water tastes sweet, but some water tastes astringent and even difficult to swallow. The quality of water can affect the water taste, therefore, hinders the overall intake of water.
This past hurricane season of 2021 ended up being within the three most active seasons on record. With that being said, it fell in line with a 30 year average of occurrences within the Atlantic. It produced 21 storms, alongside 7 hurricanes, with nearly half of said hurricanes reaching category 3 or more according to the Saffir-Simpson scale. From extensive clean-up efforts to major infrastructural damage, hurricanes and tropical storms leave a wake of destruction in their path. When damage does occur, municipal water facilities are prone to the rather harsh effects of storms.
In order to ensure optimal health, our bodies need water to function well through consumption of sufficient amounts of water. It is recommended for men to drink 15 ½ cups of water on average per day, whereas women should drink 11 ½ cups. This enables your organs to operate well, in the removal of toxins, and more. However, for most people, tap water isn’t enough to replace lost electrolytes and keep your body hydrated. Let’s explore what aspects would make tap water unfavorable for consumption, and how it may be improved.
Michigan is a state that is heavily dependent on the auto industry. The great recession of the automobile industry at the end of the last century still dimmed the lights of the Greater Detroit area, and the 2008 financial crisis was another strike to the state. City Flint is also inevitable.
The Wolf Administration was able to receive preliminary approval of a proposed drinking water regulation that would set limits for two highly toxic chemicals. The Environmental Quality Board approved the rule at 14 parts per trillion, and 18 ppm respectively in submissions from state agencies over this summer. The state Department of Environmental Protection has found that one third of the 400+ sites tested across Pennsylvania are contaminated with a harmful chemical. The federal government ordered public water systems in 2013 to conduct these screenings, and more than 100 communities have been tested so far for this substance. Both chemicals belong to the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, and which are used in products like nonstick cookware, carpets, firefighting foam and fast-food wrappers.
Struggling to improve water quality continues long after a water crisis has taken place. As history tells us, even Flint, Michigan has struggled since their own water supply was threatened back in 2014. Then, in 2019, Newark, NJ made headlines of their own, with a lead water crisis that effected 1/5 of its entire citizenship. As their residents began grow concerned, fearing Flint, Michigan was on repeat, Newark official went to work creating a plan. In fact, the folks in Newark quickly began replacing their aging lead piping with copper pipes to put an end to lead exposure.
Into the third week of October, the area of Charlotte, NC experienced what has been touted as a historical main water break. As a result, widespread outages ensued throughout the state’s capitol, affecting services within a 16 zip code area. While services have been restored since, residents are concerned in regard to taking precautions, in addition to corporate customers. Check the latest news here. Since then, a second main water break occurred. Unfortunately, once an event of this magnitude takes place, it’s often difficult to maintain consumer confidence, especially in regard to water quality. If you are one of the consumers currently worried about the safety of your tap water, read on to understand whether or not you could be affected well after the break.
Water is crucial to survival. We cannot attain optimal health without clean and healthy water. However, the water we have found ourselves drinking and using nowadays contains several harmful chemicals. One of these dangerous chemicals is fluoride, usually found in large amounts in municipal tap water. Surprising, isn’t it? Contrary to expectations, the government’s tap water to our homes is treated with fluoride because it allegedly improves our dental health. But this is far from the truth.
Although Flint, Mich, and Newark, N.J, have excessively high levels of lead-contaminated drinking water, the situation is not unique. Generally, millions of Americans may be drinking lead-contaminated water unknowingly because of old lead pipes, faucets, or other plumbing fixtures that have a high lead concentration. Lead has devastating effects, especially in children, causing effects that can last a lifetime.