drinking water

Climate Change Leaves Flood Maps Outdated, FEMA Says

Climate Change Leaves Flood Maps Outdated, FEMA Says

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deanne Criswell said the federal government’s flood maps are outdated following a rash of disastrous floods due to climate change-induced extreme levels of rainfall, reported The Guardian. “The part that’s really difficult right now is the fact that our flood maps don’t take into account excessive rain […]

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    Massachusetts Sues 15 Companies Over PFAS Contamination

    Massachusetts Sues 15 Companies Over PFAS Contamination

    Toxic forever chemicals known as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have polluted drinking water throughout the U.S. Now, one state is fighting back.  Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a lawsuit Wednesday against 13 PFAS manufacturers that had knowingly polluted drinking water, groundwater and other natural resources in the state, leading to millions of dollars […]

    20 Million Acres of U.S. Cropland May Be Contaminated by PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

    20 Million Acres of U.S. Cropland May Be Contaminated by PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’

    Toxic per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” are a family of more than 9,000 synthetic, human-made chemicals that barely break down in the natural environment, according to CHEM Trust. PFAS are used to make products water-, heat- or stain-resistant, The Guardian reported. Very low amounts of these forever chemicals in […]

    Colorado River Tops List of Ten ‘Most Endangered’ Rivers in U.S.

    Colorado River Tops List of Ten ‘Most Endangered’ Rivers in U.S.

    Water is the lifeblood of existence and rivers are the veins that carry it, connecting organisms, minerals and species across the globe. Rivers provide habitat, help drain rainwater, replenish groundwater, instill in us a feeling of ancient connectedness to our planet and are the source of drinking water for two-thirds of U.S. residents. American Rivers, […]

    California Sues Walmart for Dumping Hazardous Waste in Landfills

    California Sues Walmart for Dumping Hazardous Waste in Landfills

    Corporate giant Walmart is being sued by the state of California for allegedly dumping 159,600 pounds of hazardous waste a year in the state’s landfills. The products, which include pesticides, toxic cleaning supplies, batteries, aerosol cans, latex paints and LED lightbulbs, are not materials the landfills are equipped to handle. Rob Bonta, California’s attorney general, […]

    White House Unveils Plan to Replace All Lead Pipes in Next 10 Years

    White House Unveils Plan to Replace All Lead Pipes in Next 10 Years

    The Biden administration has released the “Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan,” an ambitious plan to replace all the lead water pipes and service lines in the country in the next decade. The plan also intends to provide support to local communities for lead paint removal. The administration seeks to engage local, state and […]