In a strategic pivot, the Biden administration emphasizes clean water initiatives, spotlighting federal investments to enhance drinking water safety and infrastructure.
Miranda Willson reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Vice President Kamala Harris highlights significant federal funding aimed at improving drinking water safety and infrastructure during a visit to Pittsburgh.
- The administration proposes an Environmental Protection Agency rule to mandate the removal of all lead pipes within a decade, backed by the largest federal investment in drinking water to date.
- Clean water emerges as a critical issue for voters, especially in swing states facing environmental challenges, from droughts in the Southwest to water contamination in the Midwest.
Key quote:
"It is really such a tangible issue. You turn your faucet on and see the water coming out. It’s a way that people can really see the results of investment, or lack thereof."
— Helen Kalla, Senior Director at Lot Sixteen
Why this matters:
Human health is directly impacted by water pollution through the consumption of contaminated water, which can lead to a range of illnesses from gastrointestinal problems to serious conditions like cholera, hepatitis, and mercury poisoning. Polluted water also affects agriculture, as crops irrigated with contaminated water can absorb and pass on harmful substances to consumers.
Contaminated drinking water—most of which currently meets legal quality standards—could cause an estimated 100,000 cancer cases in the U.S.
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