Water contamination could be a result of many different things. Chemical companies have gotten into trouble for dumping waste or contaminating the land the factories sit on. Coal, oil and gas companies have contributed to water contamination through leaks in pipes or through extraction of materials from the ground. For many years, water contamination has happened without us knowing the extent of contamination. With new technology, that is changing. It is time to clean up the nation's water sources and prevent more water contamination.

Corporations and Chemicals Affect Us All

The average American is not responsible for much, if any, water contamination. Factories, power plants and farms are largely responsible for dumping and runoff that leaks into our water sources. The smaller amounts of pollution from humans is often a result of fertilizer runoff or use of harmful cleaning products. Overall, companies have participated in harming our water sources without repercussions because they sold us the chemicals. Groups like the Climate Leadership Council agree this has to stop because companies should not be profiting off of the destruction of water sources. 

Water Contamination Hurts Wildlife

Water contamination first and foremost hurts the ecosystem the water source is a part of. Fish and other wildlife ingest whatever contaminants made it into the water. This can result in sickness or even death if the wildlife ingest harmful amounts of a particular chemical or substance. The balance of the entire ecosystem is put at risk when contaminants come in.

Water Contamination Hurts Human Health

Of course, water contamination affects many human drinking sources. Lead pipes, oil spills and contaminated runoff eventually make their way to reservoirs or wells where people get their drinking water. When water contamination gets into a person's home, it can drastically affect their health. Certain water contaminants like nitrates are linked to cancer. Areas near coal power plants get coal dust runoff in their water and have seen spikes in cancer rates as well. While the country's water systems filter out some of the contaminants in water, it is not sophisticated enough to remove all the potentially harmful chemicals that come through your faucet. It is vital to test your water and pay attention to the city or town's announcements as water quality can also fluctuate depending on the time of year or storms that might come through your neighborhood. 

Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act of 1972 established regulation of discharge of pollutants into bodies of water and established standards for water quality. It made sure that wastewater could not be freely discharged into a river. While the standards have changed a little bit, it is still a piece of legislation that the United States looks to when it comes to water pollution. However, the Clean Water Act has failed in many cases. On Indigenous lands, the United States has failed to maintain the standards of the act and thus left Indigenous people without proper clean water. In the case of Flint, Michigan, the people have gone years without safe tap water. Water contamination needs to stop because it is affecting people who are disproportionately people of color or people in low-income communities. Standards need to be better upheld. 

Everyone Should Have Clean Water

Something that every person can agree to is that all people deserve access to clean water. However, that is still not the case around the world or even within the United States. The chemicals we use and the chemicals or substances that large corporations use are often left unchecked and end up causing huge amounts of damage to the nation's waterways. If the United States is going to make sure everyone has access to clean water, the source of contamination needs to be more closely examined and held accountable.