A Proposal to Protect Drinking Water Quality

The purpose of this report is to propose a solution to the problem of reduced drinking water quality due to chemical pollution. Some bodies of water in the United States are becoming polluted from chemicals and restrictions are needed to protect drinking water quality.

THE BACKGROUND OF CHEMICAL USE AND WATER QUALITY

Drinking water quality was not a concern until the last century when the use of chemicals was greatly expanded. Chemicals are used to kill weeds, insects, and other pests. Chemicals are typically sprayed on an area and are designed not to harm the crop, grass, or other plants that you want to remain. This mass application procedure allows much-unutilized chemical to soak into the soil and eventually leach into the ground water. If applied right before a rain, the chemical can also be washed into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. The first widespread problem with chemicals in the water was with the chemical DDT. Fish in rivers and lakes first picked up DDT. These infected fish where then eaten by eagles and hawks which as a result laid eggs that could not hatch. This caused a dramatic reduction of numbers in these populations and almost caused the extinction of the Bald Eagle, our national bird. In the 70?s and 80?s there was an explosion of new chemicals on the market that had not been tested for environmental problems. These chemicals are the basis of most management systems in agriculture today and they are also harming the water that we all need for survival.

THE NEED FOR INCREASED CONTROL OF CHEMICALS

Poor Water Quality is a Widespread Problem

The need for increased control of chemicals is apparent through nation wide water quality testing. In 1996 the EPA gathered water testing results f...

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...ld be safer. More money for research would create jobs in the research field and would help to produce more and safer food.

IMPLEMENTATION AND RECOMMENDATION FOR CHANGE

The proposal to increase federal and state aid to research companies will occur only if enough people demand it. We need to demand that more of the federal budget by set aside to help us to have fresh, clean water in the future. The government needs to offer grants to research facilities that are working to improve the chemicals used and provide safer alternatives to farmers.

Each state needs to conduct applicator certification programs that will inform farmers about the common potentially dangerous chemicals most often used in their area. This will only come about through public pressure for a change, before our water is too polluted to allow us to continue to prosper in the years to come.