Tag: contamination
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Dry cleaners’ solvents taint Martinsville’s water
The dry cleaning industry’s use of environmentally hazardous solvents is declining, but the legacy of “perc” is an expensive one that will haunt cities such as Martinsville for decades. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed placing the Morgan County seat on its Superfund priority list, citing groundwater contamination traced to several former dry cleaning…
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Factory Farms and Superstorms Don’t Mix
Hurricane impacts in coastal areas are generally from high winds and dangerous storm surge. In inland areas, flooding from heavy rain poses a bigger threat, and the devastating flooding that hit the Houston area from Hurricane Harvey’s 51 inches of rain is proof. It’s been reported that floodwater in some parts of the Houston area…
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How is tap water treated? What causes a boil-water advisory?
We take our tap water for granted until we’re told we can’t drink it. (Photo: Latte Art/Shutterstock) In the wake of hurricanes and resulting power outages, many times people are told their tap water is non-drinkable. Water providers often issue a “boil-water advisory” because a treatment facility was affected during a storm. Residents are typically…
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Florida drinking water among nation’s worst, study finds
More Floridians are exposed to unsafe drinking water than just about anywhere in the country, according to a new study of violations. The state ranked second in the number of people impacted by violations under the Safe Drinking Water Act based on the most recent data available from 2015, the Natural Resources Defense Council said.…
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Houston’s Floodwaters Are Tainted With Toxins, Testing Shows
Lisa Montemayor of the Houston Department of Health and Human Services collecting water samples. Photo: Eric Thayer for The New York Times Floodwaters in two Houston neighborhoods have been contaminated with bacteria and toxins that can make people sick, testing organized by The New York Times has found. Residents will need to take precautions to…
