Water
An Essential Element of Life
Most of us tend to take our tap water for granted. First, we should be thankful for this luxury, which millions of people in undeveloped regions are not able to enjoy. Water to drink, cook with, bathe with, wash the car, water the lawn and garden. Yes, modern civilizations are spoiled in this one of many worldly ways. We simply turn on the nearest faucet and receive an immediate flow of good, fresh water.
Clean, contaminant free drinking water, is becoming scarce, and it's closer to home than you might think. Hence, the big boom in bottled water. Well yes, some of us like those bottles purely for convenience. Bottled water is also the most appropriate means of supplying people affected by disasters. Then there are those who purchase and consume this packaged form of H2O out of necessity. Their tap water is simply so contaminated that it is unfit to drink or cook with.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has enforced the The Safe Drinking Water Act since 1974, setting national safety standards for 80 plus contaminants that might possibly occur in our drinking water. It is the EPA and our state governments who set and enforce these standards. It is our local governments and the private water suppliers who are responsibile for the quality of the water that we receive.
Concered citizens may contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
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