Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Image from Minnesota Department of Health

S.875 -- Drinking Water Right to Know Act (Introduced in Senate - IS) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require additional monitoring of certain contaminants, and for other purposes.

Introduction:

• "Drinking Water Right to Know Act - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require a public water system that detects an unregulated contaminant included in EPA's list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems and included in the national drinking water occurrence data base, to continue to monitor for the detected contaminant for such period, at such frequency, and at such levels of concentration as the Administrator determines to be appropriate. Authorizes the data contained in the national drinking water contaminant occurrence data base to be used by the public. Requires the Administrator to: (1) evaluate the extent to which such data is accessible to and useable by the public; and (2) make such data more accessible to and useable by the public" (Bill Status and Summary). 
• Too many citizen are drinking water that is contaminated with hazard pollutants. "Since 2004, more than 62 million Americans have been exposed to drinking water that meets EPA standards but actually contains potentially harmful contaminants, including some that are toxic. In fact, research shows there are more than 140 chemicals in our drinking water that the EPA does not regulate. "In some parts of our country, these chemicals include gasoline additives and pesticides. In other states, drinking water contains so-called fracking chemicals, which are used to produce natural gas. In some communities near drilling rigs, you can turn on the tap and literally light the water on fire. "As if that isn't disturbing enough, late last year, chromium six -- a carcinogen linked to leukemia, stomach cancer and other cancers -- was found in the water supplies of 31 American cities" (Frank Lautenberg)
• This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on May 3, 2011 (PopVox)
• S.875 -- Drinking Water Right to Know Act

Who is affected by the issue?

• Everyone that drinks from a public water system will be affected by this bill.
• The Administrator that is by regulation required to monitor the public water system for the detected contaminant and EPA may lose money from this bill from paying for the work and materials for testing.
• Citizens drinking public water will gain the security of knowing their drinking water is safe.  With the elimination of harmful contaminants in the water, citizens will no longer pay for doctors or medications to recover from the illness and diseases obtained from the contaminated water.

What are the consequences/ barriers of the issue?

• Testing and monitoring of the water will cost time and money which may increase taxes and in turn affect individuals, families, and society as a whole.
• Hiring a new employee or adding work load to an existing employee will be a barrier for the mandated testing and reporting agencies.
• Implementing suggestion to improve drinking water may also be costly and time consuming.

What is the economic impact of the issue?

• Testing and monitoring of the public water will cost money to complete for the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Illnesses, diseases, and cancers may be reduced by elimination toxic chemicals and carcinogens in the public drinking water which will reduce medical expenses.
• Implementing corrections needed discovered from water testing may be an economic issue for the government.
• Rewriting drinking stands and publicly disclosing information may have an economic impact on the government and testing agencies.

What is the social impact of the issue? 

• Toxin and carcinogen-free water will reduce possible illnesses and side effects that are caused from the 140 chemicals found in public drinking water that are currently unregulated.
• Making water data available to the public will allow citizens to make informed decisions on their water consumption.

What are the resources?

• We need to address where the money will come from to set new standards, implement testing of public water systems, and publicly disclosing information. This money may need to come from a tax increase, water standard violation ticketing, or Clean Water Agency donations such as American Water Resource Association, Clean Water Action, Partnership for Safe Water, or Charity: Water.
• These resources can be tapped by implementing increases taxes or violation ticketing.  Organization donation can be achieved by simply stating our need and asking for help.
• For Minnesota: Minnesota State Drinking Water Offices in St. Paul
• "States can use funds that the EPA makes available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program to help their water suppliers improve drinking water quality" (EPA).

Minnesota State Drinking Water Offices:

Minnesota's drinking water program
Drinking Water Protection Section
Dept. of Health
625 Robert Street North P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 651-201-4700

Minnesota's source water program
Drinking Water Protection Section
Dept. of Health
625 Robert Street North P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 651-201-4681

What is the history of this issue?

• May 3, 2011: Date this bill was introduced into Congress.  
• Drinking Water Right to Know Act is in the first stage of the legislative process.  
• Twenty-five years ago,  Frank Lautenberg authored the Right to Know Law on toxic chemical releases to make sure people know about potentially hazardous substances in their communities. (Frank Lautenberg)
• December 16, 1974: Safe Drinking Water Act was implemented to assure that the public is provided with safe drinking water, and for other purposes (EPA).

Allies & Opponents:
Allies: American Water Resource Association, Clean Water Action, Partnership for Safe Water, or Charity: Water.
Opponents: Mandated testers

I recommend the Senate should vote YES on S.875 Drinking Water Right to Know Act .  This Act will ensure safe public drinking water for all citizens.