Renewing Commitment to Public Water
Contrary to what the bottled water industry would have you think, public tap water is healthy, safe and monitored. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency requires extensive testing of public water for both organic and inorganic contaminants.
Contrary to what the bottled water industry would have you think, public tap water is healthy, safe and monitored. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency requires extensive testing of public water for both organic and inorganic contaminants. When, in some communities, public water systems fall short of consistently meeting EPA standards it is likely due to pollution of the water source, inadequate water treatment, or deteriorating infrastructure.
Federal, state and local governments must protect the quality and integrity of our water sources. That means full enforcement of the Clean Water Act, the establishment of laws and regulations that severely curb activities that pollute, such as industrial agriculture and chemical production, and investment in and the maintenance and renewal of municipal water and sewage treatment plants, storage, and distribution.
Unfortunately, if current spending stays the same, over the next 20 years our communities will fall nearly $23 billion short annually of what they need to maintain and improve public drinking water and sewage systems. A federal clean water trust fund could provide billions of dollars, year after year, for investment in clean and safe drinking water for every community and every person in the United States.
Take Action
- Learn more about the campaign for a clean water trust fund at Food & Water Watch.
- Tell Congress to Protect America’s Water! Sign the petition to keep water clean and safe.
Learn More
Read more about the health, environmental, economic, and equity concerns associated with bottled water in our report, Take Back the Tap: Why Choosing Tap Water Over Bottled Water is Better for Your Health, Your Pocketbook, and the Environment.
