Water Quality?
Does anyone know where the worst water use in the US is?
Answer:
The worst water use? Do you mean wasted water, most wasted water? Place of heaviest water usage per capita?
I do not know those, but would hazard a guess of Detroit for most wasted water per capita, probably far worse than NYC. Crumbling infrastructure, many broken mains every winter, especially now. Many other leaks and wastages.
But if you are asking where the water is most damaged, there are places where MTBE (a toxic former gasoline additive) has leaked into the ground water, water table. Heard a lot about places in California, but they are just monitoring it better. Probably other, less known, unknown places are far worse.
New Jersey has many ground water & water table pollution problems.
The biggest contaminated area, I think, would be Texas. The underlying aquifer is becoming depleted AND contaminated by animal wastes as well as having MTBE or other toxic spots. Many places originally named for the water quality: Badwater, Sweetwater, etc.
In Montana, a place with very limited water resources, much of the little groundwater there is has been contaminated with poisonous chemicals used for extracting gold. In some areas of Montana this is a VERY serious problem.
As to which area is the worst of all, New Jersey, Montana, Texas, I do not know. But I would DEFINITELY have my water tested AT LEAST twice a year if I lived there. Same would apply for parts of California.
Overall the water pollution/contamination problem is serious enough that people using well water (pumped from underground) should have their water tested periodically by a competent laboratory. The test should look for biological and chemical contaminants.
If you use PUBLIC water, the water utility is responsible for regular testing and maintaining water quality. That did not help the folks in Walkerton, ONT, CANADA. They had privately operated water utility who knew next to nothing and 'signed off' on records without actually testing. Faulty chlorination. This led to E. Coli O157H7 outbreak that killed some people and seriously damaged others.
Things to Google: Ogalala Aquifer, MTBE pollution, Closed Municipal Wells, Dioxin, Walkerton Water Fiasco
EPA List of Water Contaminants
Part of Lake Erie is dead once again (no oxygen to sustain the fish). [Recent finding].
As for the absolute worst in the world, that I do not know. But Mexico's problems are WORSE than ours. Mexico City running out of water rapidly, now approaching crisis. Poisoned water in many areas.
Many other nations having problems: Poland, Spain, Middle East, Egypt, Jordan, India, Turkey, China, Russia, Turkmenistan.
WATER IS THE CHIEF COMMODITY (everyone has some access to AIR, though it is getting polluted too).
Life is EXTREMELY difficult in areas without water!
Drink bottled water when traveling in suspect area. At home, try using a Brita Filter or similar.
More Questions and Answers:
can we stop tornadoes using liquid helio.?
do you think the mars exploration is a waste of money?
how do I stop evaporation from my dam and still water sheep?
Would global warming trigger an environmental default?
can a nuclear power plant cause a nuclear explosion?
What to do to save our country by pollution?
how would an atheist (or a non theist) go about converting a believer?
"floods and droughts are common in India" - why?
what are the ill effects of advanced technologies?
Answer:
The worst water use? Do you mean wasted water, most wasted water? Place of heaviest water usage per capita?
I do not know those, but would hazard a guess of Detroit for most wasted water per capita, probably far worse than NYC. Crumbling infrastructure, many broken mains every winter, especially now. Many other leaks and wastages.
But if you are asking where the water is most damaged, there are places where MTBE (a toxic former gasoline additive) has leaked into the ground water, water table. Heard a lot about places in California, but they are just monitoring it better. Probably other, less known, unknown places are far worse.
New Jersey has many ground water & water table pollution problems.
The biggest contaminated area, I think, would be Texas. The underlying aquifer is becoming depleted AND contaminated by animal wastes as well as having MTBE or other toxic spots. Many places originally named for the water quality: Badwater, Sweetwater, etc.
In Montana, a place with very limited water resources, much of the little groundwater there is has been contaminated with poisonous chemicals used for extracting gold. In some areas of Montana this is a VERY serious problem.
As to which area is the worst of all, New Jersey, Montana, Texas, I do not know. But I would DEFINITELY have my water tested AT LEAST twice a year if I lived there. Same would apply for parts of California.
Overall the water pollution/contamination problem is serious enough that people using well water (pumped from underground) should have their water tested periodically by a competent laboratory. The test should look for biological and chemical contaminants.
If you use PUBLIC water, the water utility is responsible for regular testing and maintaining water quality. That did not help the folks in Walkerton, ONT, CANADA. They had privately operated water utility who knew next to nothing and 'signed off' on records without actually testing. Faulty chlorination. This led to E. Coli O157H7 outbreak that killed some people and seriously damaged others.
Things to Google: Ogalala Aquifer, MTBE pollution, Closed Municipal Wells, Dioxin, Walkerton Water Fiasco
EPA List of Water Contaminants
Part of Lake Erie is dead once again (no oxygen to sustain the fish). [Recent finding].
As for the absolute worst in the world, that I do not know. But Mexico's problems are WORSE than ours. Mexico City running out of water rapidly, now approaching crisis. Poisoned water in many areas.
Many other nations having problems: Poland, Spain, Middle East, Egypt, Jordan, India, Turkey, China, Russia, Turkmenistan.
WATER IS THE CHIEF COMMODITY (everyone has some access to AIR, though it is getting polluted too).
Life is EXTREMELY difficult in areas without water!
Drink bottled water when traveling in suspect area. At home, try using a Brita Filter or similar.
More Questions and Answers: