Scientists say 50-year old water regulations are out of step with modern challenges to the country’s drinking water. Urban and agricultural runoff, fracking, and water shortages, have changed what gets into the water. Scientists are calling for a fresh look at the smell and taste of the country’s drinking water.
Municipal drinking water safety is carefully regulated by cities and towns; on up to the federal government, but when it comes to the taste of that water, not so much.
"Taste and odor is the most imp criteria of drinking water for consumers and it’s important to EPA but since it’s not regulated it’s not at the top of their list of things that they have to get done," says Virginia Tech Environmental Engineering Professor Andrea Dietrich.
She calls on EPA, citizens, local governments and utilities to address new challenges to the taste of water. Things like urban and agricultural run off and fracking -- which came after current standards were set, now play a large role today. Dietrich points out that not all bad tasting water is hazardous, but bad tasting or smelling water has more than just those obvious drawbacks.
"Water is essential for health. It reduces diabetes, it reduces obesity. It aids in mitigating or controlling other diseases. And tap water; it’s cost effective, it’s readily available. It’s low cost it, it should be the beverage of choice for people and if the tap water doesn’t taste good people don’t want to drink it."
Dietrich says it’s time for a national dialog on how to protect the country’s potable water supply from new assaults to its taste and quality in the 21st century.
