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M5.2 The Public Health Importance of Safe Drinking-Water

It’s a harsh reality when we think about the amounts of water used in our daily lives, not only from personal water use, taking showers or brushing our teeth, but water used to produce our basic needs like food and clothing. Clean water is critical for all living things on this planet. This is why the Clean Water Act of 1972 is so important in regulating water pollution. The act made it illegal to discharge pollution from a point source without a permit, it set standards for industrial wastewater and levels of contamination, and it provided funding for sewage treatment plants. All this in support to reducing contamination into lakes, rivers, and oceans. Polluted water is a health risk, it can cause an influx of diseases and can impact the health and development of those most vulnerable like seniors, babies, and children. Having clean safe drinking water and clean water for recreation is essential to living a healthy active life. It’ important to note that while the Clean Water Act of 1972 holds many of the current standards in keeping our waters clean there is still room for improvement. A clear example of the need to hold not only those polluting the waters but also government officials in Flint, Michigan. It took restless community members to fight back and demand clean water that made this national news and a public health crisis.

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