Water throughout the United States is being polluted by industry and commercial farming, people are getting sick and the EPA is doing little about it.

Some estimates show that one in 10 Americans has had exposure to drinking water containing dangerous chemicals or failing to meet a federal health. Because much of today’s water pollution is odorless and tasteless, people don’t realize what they are drinking until they become sick.Even then it’s difficult to trace the illness back to the water. It is estimated that 19.5 million Americans become sick ill each year from water containing parasites, bacteria or viruses and additional illness are caused by other chemicals and toxins.

Studies show that violations of pollutions laws, such as the Clean Water Act, are steadily rising and that in the last five years the laws have been violated more than half a million times. While some of the violations are mild (such as failing to file reports), about 60 percent are “significant noncompliance” including dumping at concentrations that might contribute to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses.

Research shows that state officials have levied fines and significant punishments in fewer than 3 percent of Clean Water Act violations and the EPA often declines to prosecute. Some of this maybe a result of lack of funding for these agencies since despite the number regulated facilities more than doubling in the last 10 years, many state enforcement budgets have remained the same, once adjusted for inflation. Another factor is that powerful industries have been successful in lobbying to undermine effective regulation.

Many EPA employees claim to work under a fear of reprisal should they speak out. One former employee, Matthew Crum, a 43-year-old lawyer, claims that an active campaign by local industry resulted in him being fired from the agency in 2003.

One example of the effects of water pollution is in West Virginia, near the state capital, where families have resorted to using bottled water to brush their teeth in order to stop the extensive tooth damage they were experiencing and applying ointment after bathing to deal with the resulting rashes. Water testing has shown toxic amounts of lead, manganese, barium and other metals.

The problems began around the same time that local coal companies began pumping industrial waste into storage lagoons and abandoned mines. According to reports filed by the companies themselves, 1.9 billion gallons of waste have been injected into the ground since 2004 and millions more are stored in lagoons. The levels of toxins in the waste have sometimes violated legal limits by 1000 percent.

Yet, no company has been charged. Local officials claim that reports were accidently overlooked until after the statute of limitations had passed and that it is difficult to determine exactly where the pollution is coming from. Two lawsuits have been filed by local residents.

Regulators and activists alike say that the EPA needs to take the lead and start enforcing regulations. Others feel that nothing will happen without a public outcry.

Water throughout the United States is being polluted by industry and commercial farming, people are getting sick and the EPA is doing little about it.

Some estimates show that one in 10 Americans has had exposure to drinking water containing dangerous chemicals or failing to meet a federal health. Because much of today’s water pollution is odorless and tasteless, people don’t realize what they are drinking until they become sick.Even then it’s difficult to trace the illness back to the water. It is estimated that 19.5 million Americans become sick ill each year from water containingparasites, bacteria or viruses and additional illness are caused by other chemicals and toxins.

Studies show that violations of pollutions laws, such as the Clean Water Act, are steadily rising and that in the last five years the laws have been violated more than half a million times. While some of the violations are mild (such as failing to file reports), about 60 percent are “significant noncompliance” including dumping at concentrations that might contribute to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses.

Research shows that state officials have levied fines and significant punishments in fewer than 3 percent of Clean Water Act violations and the EPA often declines to prosecute. Some of this maybe a result of lack of funding for these agencies since despite the number regulated facilities more than doubling in the last 10 years, many state enforcement budgets have remained the same, once adjusted for inflation. Another factor is that powerful industries have been successful in lobbying to undermine effective regulation.

Many EPA employees claim to work under a fear of reprisal should they speak out. One former employee, Matthew Crum, a 43-year-old lawyer, claims that an active campaign by local industry resulted in him being fired from the agency in 2003.

One example of the effects of water pollution is in West Virginia, near the state capital, where families have resorted to using bottled water to brush their teeth in order to stop the extensive tooth damage they were experiencing and applying ointment after bathing to deal with the resulting rashes. Water testing has shown toxic amounts of lead, manganese, barium and other metals.

The problems began around the same time that local coal companies began pumping industrial waste into storage lagoons and abandoned mines. According to reports filed by the companies themselves, 1.9 billion gallons of waste have been injected into the ground since 2004 and millions more are stored in lagoons. The levels of toxins in the waste have sometimes violated legal limits by 1000 percent.

Yet, no company has been charged. Local officials claim that reports were accidently overlooked until after the statute of limitations had passed and that it is difficult to determine exactly where the pollution is coming from. Two lawsuits have been filed by local residents.

Regulators and activists alike say that the EPA needs to take the lead and start enforcing regulations. Others feel that nothing will happen without a public outcry.