ebmgh.com

The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit based in Washington, DC released a report on the National Drinking Water Database (warning: annoying popups). EWG pulled together data for 47,667 utilities from 2004 to 2009, by requesting water quality data from 50 states and the District of Columbia. After compiling information from most states into one large database, they ranked water systems, looked at trends, and drew a number of conclusions, including this figure on the source of contaminants.

EWG ranked the quality of water provided by the largest 100 water utilities, which serve at least 250,000 people. Providence, Rhode Island ranks #2, just behind Arlington, Texas. This shows the benefits of an undeveloped watershed – Providence gets its water from the Scituate Reservoir, whose watershed is almost completely forested.

The New York Times printed an article, using the report to continue bashing the EPA for its lack of effective enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act. See, for example, December 8 piece, Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show.

Meanwhile, the Riverside Press has coverage of agency staff going on the offensive after receiving low marks:

The Environmental Working Group says state records show some tests of the city’s treated water from 2004 to 2009 contained high levels of nitrate, arsenic, uranium and other pollutants.

David Wright, general manager of Riverside Public Utilities called the group’s analysis erroneous and untrue, saying the figures released by the organization were for untreated groundwater, not what comes out of the tap. If city water violated maximum contaminant levels set by federal regulators, customers would have to be notified; Riverside had no violations of state or federal drinking water standards in the five-year reporting period, Wright said.

Of course, it is easier to “question the group’s integrity” and “say it lacks scientific credibility” than it is to explain to customers why there are traces of toxic chemicals in their water supply.