Communities depend on clean water: one in three residents get their drinking water from streams currently lacking clear protection. Thousands of U.S. residents become ill each year from drinking water contaminated with human and animal waste, pesticides and heavy metals such as arsenic and lead. Bacteria or parasites in drinking water pose health risks of waterborne diseases, which some studies estimate to affect 7 million or more people each year, 560,000 of them severe cases.
Nitrates found in fertilizers and human and animal feces wash into drinking water sources, where they can interfere with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to the brain and vital organs.
Last summer phosphate and nitrate pollution from fertilizers washed into Lake Erie, causing algae blooms that left toxins and dead zones behind. These algae blooms spurred by fertilizer runoff caused water shut-offs affecting 400,000 people. The Clean Water Rule needs to be enacted for our health and safety.
Science demonstrates that upstream headwaters, wetlands, lakes, or other waters act together to significantly influence downstream waters by contributing clean water for drinking, irrigation, recreation, and commercial fishing; filtering pollution and reducing downstream treatment costs; and reducing downstream flooding. That’s why the EPA finalized the Clean Water Rule.
Right now 60 percent of streams and millions of acres of wetlands aren’t clearly protected. The Clean Water Rule uses the law and science to clarify that waters like tributaries and adjacent waters must be protected under the Clean Water Act because they significantly affect the quality of downstream waters.
A strong Clean Water Rule improves our communities’ health and wellbeing as well as our rivers, lakes and bays by protecting the small streams and wetlands they depend on. As a health professional I believe strongly in the connection between a healthy environment and a healthy community which is why I support the Clean Water Rule.
Janell E. Lundgren, MD, is a Cincinnati-based physician and prior to receiving her medical degree practiced environomental health advocacy and education. She is a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
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