Don’t we need more federal regulation to keep our drinking water safe?

Public health would be better served if states and localities had greater authority in setting drinking water standards because that would allow them to spend their limited resources in a way that maximizes public health and well-being.  Currently, federal regulation often requires them to divert huge amounts of money to address insignificant risks, forcing them to neglect much larger risks. 

History shows that local governments are better suited than the federal government to address drinking water quality.  Local governments and private parties have contributed much more than the federal government to improved water quality.  In fact, most progress in cleaning drinking water occurred before the federal government got involved.  Local government and private firms built water infrastructure and developed and implemented water purification technology long before the federal involvement.  As a result, waterborne-related deaths in the United States  dropped from 75 to 100 per 100,000 people at the turn of the century to fewer than 0.1 deaths per 100,000 annually in 1950 because local governments and industry introduced chlorination in the 1880s.

 Do chemicals in my drinking water cause cancer?

The trace levels of chemicals present in U.S. drinking water systems are too low to pose any substantial cancer risk.  In their landmark study on cancer, Scientists Richard Doll and Richard Peto noted “with the possible exception of asbestos in a few water supplies, we know of no established human carcinogen that is ever present in sufficient quantities in large U.S. water supplies to account for any material percentage of the total risk of cancer.”  A key thing to remember is that it is “the dose that makes the poison.”  Despite claims that a chemical causes cancer in rodents (which are give massive doses), that does not mean a low-level exposure poses any significant risk to humans.  In fact, high doses of broccoli, carrots, and coffee cause cancer in rodents, but they are certainly safe and healthy to eat.

Does the chlorine in my water support affect my health? 

Chlorination of water supplies have proven to be one of the most important public health achievements of all time as it prevents a untold number of waterborne illnesses every year.  Still some people say that we need to reduce chlorine use because it creates byproducts that could cause cancer.  But EPA’s own rule for regulation of such byproducts admits that evidence is lacking to demonstrate such effects.  Unfortunately, the regulations on chlorine byproducts could actually harm public health.  Underscoring that concern, EPA’s own Science Advisory Board has warned: “A key concern is the possibility that chlorination … may be replaced by processes with poorly understood health impacts, both chemically and microbiologically.”

Should I worry about arsenic levels in my water supply?

Arsenic in U.S. drinking water systems—even when levels exceed federal standards by many times over—do not reach levels where it could pose a health concern.  Only populations that have been exposed to arsenic level that are hundreds of times higher than levels in U.S. water supplies for decades have suffered ill effect.  At such massive, long-term exposures, arsenic can cause a type of skin cancer.  Fortunately, there have been no such cases in the United States.

What is radon and should I worry about getting cancer from radon in my drinking water?

Radon is a radioactive material released from the earth’s crust.  Low-levels of radon can be found in drinking water, but the pose no significant public health risk.  The only studies indicating that radon is a problem related to miners exposed to very high levels of radon, which they inhaled.  Many of these miners also smoked and were exposed to a large array of other chemicals as well.  There is no evidence of anyone ever getting ill from radon in drinking water.  Meanwhile, there is some evidence that low-level radiation exposures can actually reduce cancer risks.