One can only imagine the feeling of coming home one day and turning on their tap water for a shower and see that their water ran a strange color other than clear. That’s what many residents of northern Chesapeake have experienced in the recent months. Another family experienced their tap water having a distinct foul taste. Some of the residents tried to remedy their problem by cleaning faucets and shower heads all around the house. One has even replaced their faucet and shower heads multiple times only to have gunk still clutter the water outlets. “The water also leaves rusty spots or stain the laundry” (Hafner). The local water supply company tried to appease customers by giving them a special laundry mix, but of course that doesn’t solve
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The US also allows for a limited number of microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfectant byproducts, inorganic material, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and even radionuclides which are byproducts from nuclear waste. Many of these contaminates have harmful side effects, which consumed in large quantities can lead to many health issues. Some of the contaminates are carcinogenic or a cancer-causing item, some lead to nervous system damage and harm a person’s ability to think, feel, and react. Various other contaminants cause more direct damage to certain organs like changing a person’s skin color or texture, causing thymus gland problems, liver and kidney problems, blood problems, cataracts, and even stomach and intestinal problems. Some may have an effect a person’s reproductive system or give a person anemia, a sickness that means a person has an iron deficiency. Also, there are some carcinogens that can affect an infant’s health, like nitrate, according to the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency, “Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome.” (National Primary Drinking Water Regulations). Why would the government allow for American tap water to contain such a
The US also allows for a limited number of microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfectant byproducts, inorganic material, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and even radionuclides which are byproducts from nuclear waste. Many of these contaminates have harmful side effects, which consumed in large quantities can lead to many health issues. Some of the contaminates are carcinogenic or a cancer-causing item, some lead to nervous system damage and harm a person’s ability to think, feel, and react. Various other contaminants cause more direct damage to certain organs like changing a person’s skin color or texture, causing thymus gland problems, liver and kidney problems, blood problems, cataracts, and even stomach and intestinal problems. Some may have an effect a person’s reproductive system or give a person anemia, a sickness that means a person has an iron deficiency. Also, there are some carcinogens that can affect an infant’s health, like nitrate, according to the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency, “Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome.” (National Primary Drinking Water Regulations). Why would the government allow for American tap water to contain such a