Howarth, T. (2024, September 4). Cancer-causing chemicals found in bottled and tap water in the Bay Area. Newsweek. Retrieved from, https://www.newsweek.com/cancer-causing-chemicals-water-bay-area-1948813 

Testing done in San Francisco has found the presence of trihalomethanes (THMs) in both tap and bottled water. These chemicals form during the water disinfection process and are linked to health problems like colon cancer, birth defects, and reproductive issues. The levels of THMs did not surpass the legal limits, but they were still a lot higher than the recommended health standards. This issue is likely to be found in other places in the United States as well. Bottled water use has increased in response to contaminated tap water, but it is not a safer option as it still contains THMs. Home water treatment systems and tighter regulations regarding THMs levels were presented as possible solutions.

This problem has reached the Bay Area and makes me wonder just how much tainted water I have drank in my lifetime. It seems as if contaminated water is inescapable and people will come across it at least once in their life. It is vital that we divert resources to cleaning up the water systems in order for future generations to enjoy fresh water. Home water treatment systems are not a feasible option for most people so we must take care of the problem at the source to prevent unnecessary expenditures. It is also alarming that bottled water is not safe from contamination as countless people rely on it as a clean source of drinking water. Studies of how THMs form  during the disinfection process need to be done so that we can see how to bypass or reduce its effects. 

Singh, M. (2024, August 21). Lead found in tap water of Los Angeles community after residents raised alarm for years. The Guardian. Retrieved from, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/21/los-angeles-watts-tap-water-lead-contamination 

Recent studies have found dangerous levels of lead in the water in Watts, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. The Better Watts initiative conducted water tests in residential areas and found the lead levels to be above the government’s safety standards. This community has endured a long history of environmental problems as a result of nearby factories and old buildings with lead paint. The residents have complained about the poor water quality, but the Housing Authority of Los Angeles still has taken enough action to address the problem. For years, the residents of Watts have had to rely on bottled water and are now requesting that the city intervene and clean the water before more damage is done.

This is yet another example of how poor water quality damages local communities that do not have the power to better their situation. Cities can not stand by and let their residents suffer, but should instead provide support to renovate the buildings and clean out the water systems. The residents in Watts performed tests on their own to measure the level of lead in the water, which illustrates the lack of aid from the government and city. Lead is extremely dangerous, especially to children, as long-term exposure can result in severe brain damage. This situation highlights the importance of not neglecting the environment and the need for government aid in the lower-income neighborhoods as the residents have suffered for far too long.

City News Service. (2024, September 6). California leaders push for EPA management of border sewage crisis amid public health concerns. KPBS Public Media. Retrieved from, https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/2024/09/05/california-leaders-push-for-epa-management-of-border-sewage-crisis-amid-public-health-concerns

The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2024 was introduced to tackle the pollution in the Tijuana and New River watersheds. Under this bill, the EPA will be heading efforts to remove sewage/toxic waste pollution that has been a detriment to public health and the environment (beaches closing) in the San Diego area. The EPA will have to come up with a water quality management plan within three months and give precedence to cleanup efforts. The act will also work to extend the power of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to manage stormwater quality. The CDC will be brought in as well to investigate the health effects on the surrounding communities.

This is the right step forward in fighting the problem of water pollution. However, it must be executed properly if it is to make any progress in improving the water quality. Other cities in California should use this as a model of how to proceed and reduce water contamination in their respective communities if it is successful. On the other hand, if it unfortunately fails, we can pinpoint where it went wrong and make modifications to refine the plan. Still, by taking initiative and making plans to improve water quality is better than doing nothing while the problem worsens. In this case, both the overall health and the local economy in the area are affected as the contaminated water has led to the closing of beaches and the chemicals threaten the wellbeing of the residents.

Bendix, A. (2025, January 14). Drinking water could be contaminated in L.A. county areas affected by wildfires, experts say. NBCNews.com. Retrieved from, https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/drinking-water-contaminated-l-county-areas-affected-wildfires-experts-rcna187485 

After the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, residents in the Palisades and Pasadena have been notified to not drink tap water due to high risk of it being contaminated.There are concerns that chemicals including benzene and other debris from the fires have entered the water systems. Due to increased activity from firefighters, the water pressure has dropped greatly, allowing pollutants to enter the pipes. Reservoirs and pump stations were extremely susceptible to contamination after receiving significant damage from the fires. Tests are being conducted to evaluate the level of contamination, but there is no clear timeline for when the water will be safe for consumption again. 

It is always unfortunate when natural disasters take away what people hold dearly and cause irreparable damage to everything around. To be prepared for wildfires in the future, new fire-resistant innovations can be developed that can withstand extreme conditions so that contamination can be avoided or minimized. It will take a large amount of funding and resources to repair the damage that was done and restore the water quality to make it potable. The benzene that has entered the system needs to be removed as soon as possible as long-term exposure can affect blood production. Wildfires and other natural disasters almost always have an effect on the water quality because of their destructive capabilities, so it is time that we become better prepared for these events and safeguard vital structures.  

Becker, R. (2024, September 10). “I won’t let them drink the water”: The California towns where clean drinking water is out of reach. CalMatters. Retrieved from, https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2024/09/california-drinking-water-contamination/

This article discusses the pressing issue of toxic chemicals such as PFAS being in California’s drinking water. These chemicals have been found to cause health problems like cancer and are not able to break down very easily, making them extremely dangerous. Water contaminated with these chemicals is prevalent in rural/low-income areas and poses a serious threat to the health of residents. Even though the state has set limits on PFAS levels and set aside millions of dollars for water clean-up, many people in the state still lack access to clean drinking water. It also illustrates how low-income communities are disproportionately impacted as they deal with more profound water contamination, which causes them to look for other sources for clean water that are relatively expensive.

It is clear that California needs more robust regulations for the amount of chemicals that can be in water systems. Clean drinking water is essential for optimal health, so stronger efforts need to be made in order to help people in low-income communities gain access to this necessity. This problem has proven to be directly connected to class and people underprivileged areas feel the impacts to a greater extent. The state needs to take action and start water treatment projects in these places because as of now the residents have to search for alternative sources for clean water, which in turn becomes an unnecessary financial burden. Companies and farms need to be incentivized to reduce how waste they can emit into the environment, especially water systems. This can come in the form of subsidies to invest in more eco-friendly practices. 

Reporter, J. K. F. (2024, June 8). Drinking water has highest contamination levels in these five states. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/pfas-levels-new-jersey-massachusetts-california-new-hampshire-pennsylvania-drinking-water-1908667

‌ According to the Environmental Working Group’s map of PFAS contamination in the United States, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania have the most contaminated drinking water systems than any other state. These states have the most drinking water systems that have more PFAS chemicals than the approved Environmental Protection Agency limit. Inside of the five states, urban areas seem to contain the most amount of contaminated systems. The Environmental Protection Agency, along with former president Joe Biden, has recently introduced limits to PFAS chemicals which water companies must implement within five years.

It’s unfortunate to learn that California is among the five states with the most contaminated water systems. Now I am wondering if the water system I drink from is contaminated with too many PFAS chemicals. Also, since Menlo Park is an urban city, it could be the most prone to PFAS chemicals, likely due to the high concentration of industrialization around us. It’s good that the Environmental Protection Agency and Joe Biden were able to set limits to the amount of PFAS chemicals that are allowed to be in our water, although I am wondering why they are allowing companies five years to abide by these new regulations. Hopefully our new president, Donald Trump, is able to enforce and keep building on these regulations while he is in office. I think that these PFAS chemicals, because they are used in so many products, pose a huge threat to the safety of our drinking water, and that it should be on the priority list of things that we need to focus on.

jsaputra. (2024, October 2). New research is a wake-up call for water safety in private wells. News -. https://www.macalester.edu/news/2024/10/new-research-is-a-wake-up-call-for-water-safety-in-private-wells/

‌ Economics professor Gabriel Lade was the lead researcher in surveying 22,000 rural households in Iowa. They asked people to test the safety of their own water by using some information and nitrate test trips. By keeping the survey simple and including a financial incentive they were able to achieve a 50 percent response rate and reveal that almost 40 percent of households don’t test their water frequently, don’t filter it, and only drink from a singular water source. Drinking water with high nitrate levels can lead to a large amount of issues stemming from high nitrate concentrations inhibiting the oxygen in blood cells. Although it isn’t a major concern for adults, it can be deadly for babies, who can experience blue baby syndrome.

I am not sure if my household’s drinking water is ever tested for contaminants but after reading this article, I may have to make sure that we do. High nitrate levels in water seem very harmful, even if the effects are scaled down with age. However, blue baby syndrome poses a large threat to newborns and infants, which makes me wonder if places like hospitals and daycares have their drinking water regularly checked for contaminants. It is interesting that around 40 percent of homes in Iowa don’t test their water or don’t filter it because Iowa contains a lot of farmland. I would assume that rivers and streams around farmland would contain more contaminants, as the runoff of excess nutrients would be more than that of a stream near a small city. This makes me think that more homes in Iowa should be checking their drinking water and determining if it really is healthy to consume, or if they should be installing filters to be safe.

Modeling Pollution on the Cape Fear River. (2024, September). The Nature Conservancy. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/north-carolina/stories-in-north-carolina/cape-fear-river/

‌ The Nature Conservancy is working on modelling pollution in the Cape Fear Watershed. They are conducting the initial assessment by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). This open-source watershed model developed by the US Department of Agriculture aims to model multiple factors in the watershed, such as weather, nutrients, and municipal wastewater treatment. They found that during normal flows and flooding, nonpoint source pollution is responsible for around 90 percent of the pollution feeding into Cape Fear. It also showed that 16 percent of the watershed contributed the most pollutants.

I think that The Nature Conservancy is doing a great job at analyzing when, where, and how pollutants are getting into water systems and how to combat them. They seem to be taking into account a lot of different factors. I find it interesting how things like the weather or season can impact how pollutants are getting into the water and where they are coming from. It’s a good sign that the US Department of Agriculture has been developing technologies that can help scientists determine where these toxins are coming from, and I hope that they are able to continue improving on it. Furthermore, I hope that the US Department of Agriculture is able to get more money so that they can improve these technologies faster. Also, I hope to see these technologies implemented in more places around the country, so that local communities know what is in their water and ways to keep it clean and safe.

Office, A. (2024, July 16). PFAS—“Forever Chemicals”—May Be the Biggest Water Problem Since Lead. Gao.gov. https://www.gao.gov/blog/pfas-forever-chemicals-may-be-biggest-water-problem-lead

‌ Synthetic chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are chemicals with favorable properties for products like waterproof clothing, types of cookware, and firefighting foam. It’s a very valuable resource, but due to its ability to stay in the environment for a long time, it becomes incredibly hard to dispose of. Overexposure to PFAS can lead to many harmful effects on humans, such as cancer, liver damage and thyroid disease. The Environmental Protection Agency will require public water systems to limit the amount of PFAS chemicals in the water starting in April 2029. In the meantime, some water systems have developed a way to remove PFAS from drinking water, although it doesn’t remove 100% of it and requires proper disposal.

The PFAS chemicals, which are also known as forever chemicals, seem to be a major issue throughout the country. It’s good to know that America is aware and the Environmental Protection Agency will start limiting PFAS chemicals in water systems in 2029. However, I find it unfortunate that they are waiting until 2029. It doesn’t state why in the article, but I assume it’s because they don’t have a way to properly remove PFAS chemicals from water systems. Even though they do have some technologies that can, they are far from perfect and experience more than a few design flaws. With that being said, I think we should focus more time and resources on improving these technologies. The effects of PFAS chemicals cannot be ignored, especially since some of them are life threatening.

News Medical. (2025, January 16). News-Medical. News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250116/Environmental-disparities-found-in-drinking-water-contamination-across-the-US.aspx

‌ A recent analysis done by Silent Spring Institute has found that almost one third of all US residents have been exposed to unregulated contaminants in their drinking water. One of the senior scientists in this analysis, Laurel Schnaider, collected data between 2013 and 2015. She and her team looked at 4,815 public water systems and learned that 27 percent of them were exposed to one of four contaminants: 1,4-dioxane, PFAS, chlorodifluoromethane, and 1,1 dichloroethane. They also found that communities with a majority of Black and Hispanic residents were more likely to be exposed to these toxins and live near pollution discharge sites.

The results from the analysis aren’t particularly surprising to me, as I’ve learned about the contaminated drinking water in California from phase one. It would only make sense that this is a prevalent issue throughout the entire country. Nonetheless, it’s extremely concerning how much of America’s drinking water has been contaminated, and the fact this data was taken a decade ago means that it has likely only gotten worse. I wouldn’t be surprised if over 40 percent of public water systems in America have been contaminated, and not only with one of the four toxins listed in the article. I think it’s safe to say that there are hundreds of possible toxins that we have to worry about. These toxins are the result of an increase in nationwide pollution. The contaminants are likely being washed away into rivers and streams or seeping through the ground and ending up in groundwater. Either way, it’s becoming a bigger issue by the year, and more action has to be taken by our country.