Former Michigan Governor and Eight Others Face Charges in Flint Water Crisis
After a nearly two-year-long criminal investigation, Michigan prosecutors announced 41 counts (34 felonies and seven misdemeanors) against nine high-ranking government officials, including former governor Rick Snyder, his top advisors, trusted medical officials, and two emergency managers. Two of the officials were charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter. According to prosecutors, Flint residents’ health and… Read more
New Water Flow Regulations Proposed in the U.S. for Showerheads, Dishwashers, & Washing Machines
Regulations on water usage have been implemented for decades due to droughts and energy efficiency (using fewer fossil fuels) in an effort to lower overall consumer costs. Higher usage drives prices up, which in turn causes non-renewable resources to diminish through time. Since 1992, federal law has stipulated the amount of water pouring out of… Read more
CDC Investigates Whether COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Is Decreased by PFAS Exposure
A letter addressed to Michigan State Representative Dan Kildee from Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is “assessing the intersection between PFAS exposure and COVID-19” by investigating whether exposure to these “forever chemicals” affects potential effectiveness and duration… Read more
Protect Yourself from PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl fluorinated substances called PFAS are dubbed “Forever Chemicals” due to the chemical bonds that hold the compounds together (about 5,000 substances) which never break down in the environment. PFAS can be found everywhere; they are in hundreds of products such as food-delivery containers and papers, nonstick cookware, stain-resistant clothing, carpets, and furniture,… Read more
City of Destin, FL Wins Water Tank of the Year
Across the United States and Canada, over 23,000 votes were cast and 300 water tanks nominated for Tank of the Year competition sponsored by Tnemec Company, Inc. A panel of water tank enthusiasts selected the tank design based on criteria such as artistic value, significance of the tank to the community, and challenges encountered during… Read more
Government Grants Being Paid to MI Schools to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act was signed into law in 2016. Funding under this act included reducing lead in school drinking water across the nation. The EPA recently announced the first-ever selections under the WIIN Act’s reduction in Lead Exposure via Drinking Water. These monies will support needy communities and schools… Read more
Toxic PFAS Leach Through Most In-Home Drinking Water Filters
Filters on refrigerator doors, pitcher-style filters, and whole-house filtration systems might function differently overall, but they have one thing in common: they might not be removing all toxic drinking water contaminants. Toxic PFAS, dubbed “forever chemicals,” persist in the environment indefinitely and accumulate in the human body. 99.9 percent of humans worldwide have PFAS in… Read more
Ann Arbor’s Gelman Dioxane Plume to be Remediated in Landmark Agreement
Local officials in Ann Arbor announced a proposed settlement after years of fighting in court for better cleanup of the Gelman Dioxane Plume. A more aggressive plan includes thorough monitoring of the plume’s expansion through the city’s groundwater and treating pollution at the source. Gelman Sciences is to blame for the polluted water. Washtenaw County… Read more
Protecting Against Lead in Water
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth’s crust in small amounts. It can be beneficial in specific uses, but it is a harmful metal to a person’s health and there is no safe level for lead exposure to humans. People are exposed to lead products that range from lead-based paint, air, soil,… Read more
The Importance of High-Quality Drinking Water
Hydration is key to all living things, and without it, we would only live for about five days. Our bodies are more than 50% water and it helps maintain our normal body temperature, lubricates joints, and enables the body to rid waste through urination, sweat, and bowel movements. Doctors advise us to drink at least… Read more