Water Contamination

Water contamination is caused by harmful substances, such as chemicals or microorganisms, entering a water source. Agricultural runoff, industrial contamination, improperly treated water, natural disasters and sewage leaks are some of the main causes.

Agricultural Runoff

Agricultural runoff is one of the biggest sources of water pollution, and industrial agricultural operations are some of the worst offenders. Crop production and livestock each generate significant amounts of waste and runoff that can seep into water supplies.

Water supplies can also be contaminated through the drinking water disinfection process. Water additives, such as chlorine and chloramines, are used to control the growth of microbes. But when levels are too high, they can cause eye and nose irritation, stomach upset and other problems.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune water contamination occurred from 1953 to 1987 when toxic chemicals such as trichlorethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride polluted water treatment plants that supplied the base.

The chemicals came from a nearby dry-cleaning facility that was improperly dumping chemicals. On-base leaks and spills also contributed to contamination.

People exposed to contaminated water began filing Camp Lejeune lawsuits after they developed cancer and other health problems.

Flint, Michigan

Water that’s not properly treated or that travels through poorly maintained pipes can also pose a health hazard. If your water is acidic, corrosion of copper and lead pipes can occur and contaminate it.

That’s what happened in Flint, Michigan, in 2014 when city officials decided to start using the Flint River as an alternative water source until a new water pipeline from Lake Huron was built. The new water was cheaper than the water Flint had previously been pumping in from Detroit. But it wasn’t treated with an important anti-corrosive agent to deter lead contamination.

Soon, the city’s water turned brown and consumers began complaining that it was causing skin rashes, hair loss and other problems. Because officials failed to treat the corrosive river water, it was leaching lead out of the city’s aging pipes and sending it through thousands of taps. Studies later revealed that local children’s blood-lead levels had doubled or even tripled in some cases.

Water Disinfection, Weather and Other Causes

Water disinfection can also cause the formation of dangerous byproducts, such as bromates, haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes — all of which can increase your risk of cancer. Other byproducts, such as chlorite, can cause anemia and nervous system problems in babies and children.

Even weather can adversely affect water quality. High temperatures and warmer waters can cause harmful algae blooms. Toxic blue-green algae prefer warm, slow-moving water. They’re also triggered by excessive levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Numerous types of contaminants can threaten drinking water. They include chemicals and pesticides, animal waste and industrial waste injected into the ground. Naturally occurring substances such as arsenic, radon and fluoride can also contaminate groundwater.

Toxic chemicals such as those found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune include trichlorethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride. The risk of exposure to these chemicals is higher if you live near military bases or industrial sites.

Waterborne pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and parasites, can also contaminate water. Between 2013 and 2014, more than three dozen water-related outbreaks were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These outbreaks resulted in more than 1,000 illnesses, 124 hospitalizations and 13 deaths.

These contaminants can lead to severe illness, including gastrointestinal upset, neurological problems and reproductive issues. They are especially dangerous to the very young and very old and to those with compromised immune systems.

In recent years, there have also been reports of pharmaceutical drugs in the water supply. Fortunately, the concentrations of these drugs are extremely low and unlikely to cause any considerable health effects, according to a 2012 study by the World Health Organization.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are also of concern. The manmade chemicals have been used for decades in everything from nonstick pots and pans to stain protectants on carpets, clothing and upholstery. They are also used in firefighting foams.

The hazardous compounds are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in nature or in the body. They’ve also been linked to a wide variety of health problems, including several types of cancer, birth defects, endocrine and immune system problems, and elevated cholesterol.

While two common PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — have been phased out by United States industry, they are still used internationally and imported into the country.

A recent study by the Environmental Working Group and Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute pinpointed PFAS contamination at locations in 43 states, including drinking water sites serving approximately 19 million people.

Military sites were among those most affected by the problem. The chemicals likely contaminated the environment and groundwater on military bases when flame-resistant firefighting foam was used during training and emergency response exercises.

Communities near manufacturing sites have also discovered high levels of PFAS contamination of their water supplies.

In 2016, the village of Hoosick Falls, New York, discovered high levels of the cancer-causing compounds in its public drinking water supply and private drinking water wells. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a person’s exposure level to PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, in drinking water should not exceed 70 parts per trillion in a lifetime. In Hoosick Falls, some samples detected PFOA levels at 130,000 parts per trillion.

The state of New York has accused two local companies, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International, of causing the pollution. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics was also implicated in a PFOA drinking water contamination near the company’s factory in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

Contaminated water can cause considerable health problems, ranging from gastrointestinal illnesses to neurological problems to cancer.

In the case of pathogens that cause waterborne disease, the effects are usually noticed rapidly. A person who drinks water containing bacteria or a virus will often develop diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other acute gastrointestinal symptoms. In severe cases, these symptoms can lead to dehydration and death.

Likewise, ingesting large amounts of copper-contaminated water may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Extremely high amounts can cause liver and kidney damage and even death.

But other types of contamination are more insidious. Signs and symptoms of lead exposure, for instance, typically won’t appear until dangerous levels have accumulated in a person’s body. The toxic metal can cause lifelong complications. Infants and children exposed to lead may have developmental delays, learning difficulties and behavioral problems. And the health impacts of PFAS and other contaminants can take years to show up.

If you suspect something is wrong with your tap water, contact your public water utility immediately. You may also wish to have your household water tested. The EPA provides a list of certified laboratories.

According to a 2017 article in the journal Applied Water Science, most contaminants can’t be easily detected and testing is needed to identify them.

If you have reason to believe your water supply is contaminated, switch to using bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing your teeth and making ice.

In some situations, boiling your water will make it safe to consume. If your water authority issues a boil water advisory, bring your water to a vigorous boil for one minute. This will ensure that all bacteria and other microbes are killed and will make the water safe.

Unfortunately, boiling water won’t get rid of other types of contaminants and may even make the water worse. Boiling water that contains PFAS, for instance, will actually concentrate the chemicals and increase your health risks.

There are also a number of things you can do to reduce the pollution of you household water.

Finally, if you see someone pouring oil down a storm drain or dumping waste in a stream, report them to the authorities. You may first want to try contacting your local government, but if that doesn’t work, you can contact your state environmental agency. The EPA also has an online form where you can report environmental violations.

Environmental effects of water contamination include natural ecosystem harm and endangered wildlife. Marine life is especially at great risk of harm.

Marine animals suffer health problems, reduced lifespan and reproductive problems from water contamination. Excess nutrients from agricultural runoff create unnatural algae blooms in aquatic environments. Water contamination also reduces biodiversity, endangering the food supply for various marine animals.

The federal government regulates and protects our public drinking water via the Safe Drinking Water Act. The law, which was first enacted in 1974, covers water that comes from public sources, such as rivers, lakes, springs and groundwater wells. It does not cover private wells that provide water to fewer than 25 people.

The EPA sets national standards for drinking water that include maximum legal limits on more than 90 contaminants. The agency also requires water authorities to perform certain tests for contaminants to ensure the standards are achieved. And it dictates how contaminants should be removed.

States can set their own drinking water standards as long as their standards are at least as strict as the EPA’s requirements. The EPA and states can also take enforcement actions against water systems that violate safety standards.