Clean Water

Environmental efforts relating to clean water have to do with ensuring clean water supplies, cleaning up water pollution in our lakes, rivers and streams, and identifying polluters and holding them accountable.

Across the world, water quality has worsened since the 1990s and is expected to worsen even further, with greater impacts to human health. Global water quality challenges need urgent attention and informed, coordinated actions to avoid more serious problems in the near future. (Science Direct)

In the US and many other developed countries, however, advances in drinking water infrastructure and treatment throughout the 20^th and early 21^st century have dramatically improved water reliability and quality. But chemical contaminants from a variety of human and natural sources continue to pose health concerns, even in countries with good drinking water regulations. There are six drinking water contaminants of concern in the eastern U.S.: lead from old pipes; PFAS from consumer products, food packaging, and industrial processes; water disinfection by-products from chlorine reacting with organic matter; nitrates from farm and septic tank runoff; fracking chemicals; and uranium leaching from underground rocks. (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Delaware County’s water is currently of very high quality and the county tends to be largely unaffected by most causes of contamination. But PFAS contamination is currently in the news. PFAS has been called the “forever chemical.” In Pennsylvania, nearly 20% of water systems tested contained PFAS levels above new EPA standards, including systems in Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks County – but not in Delaware County. When PFAS contamination is found, it can be removed by an activated carbon filter at the water company or in the home. Water companies are testing for PFAS and will install filters as needed. (WHYY)