| Everybody knows clean water is essential to life. It is | | | | water supply is monitored, it is not free from harmful |
| responsible for good health and a strong future. | | | | pollutants. This seems like a challenge we can |
| Countries around the world, no matter their level of | | | | overcome. But companies continue to pollute our |
| wealth or poverty, have to work relentlessly to | | | | water by dumping toxins and other waste from their |
| provide their citizens with water that is free of | | | | manufacturing processes. U.S. Water News recently |
| contaminants and microorganisms. | | | | ran an article. |
| It is often discussed in advocacy circles and | | | | WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Two companies that |
| environmental groups that countries with lower living | | | | dumped excessive amounts of chemicals into the |
| standards face the most hardships when it comes to | | | | Blackstone River in 2005 will split a $95,000 fine. |
| clean water. People in these countries have extensive | | | | The state Department of Environmental Management |
| dangers to ward off, including polluted water, | | | | fined the private companies, Veolia Water North |
| water-borne diseases, and large numbers of | | | | America and Synagro Woonsocket, which run the |
| uneducated people, whose ignorance allows water | | | | city-owned sludge incinerator and adjacent |
| illness and misappropriation to seep into their culture | | | | wastewater treatment plant. |
| and homes. | | | | The Woonsocket Call reported that the companies |
| But in the U.S., where the water supply is usually | | | | discharged phosphorous, ammonia, cyanide and |
| considered clean and potable, citizens face problems | | | | nitrogen at higher levels than allowed. |
| of their own, including polluted water, water-borne | | | | Some of the pollution violations occurred in October |
| diseases, and large numbers of people who are, | | | | 2005, when the plant was flooded by more rainwater |
| though educated, widely ignorant of the many risks | | | | than it could handle. |
| and illnesses presented by a contaminated water | | | | Yet other problems came with glitches in the handling |
| supply. | | | | of new technology. The company says that problem |
| So, the water problems in third world countries are | | | | has now been fixed. |
| not very different from the water problems in the | | | | Many water sanctions have been issued that will |
| United States. The main disparity arrives in the form | | | | work to keep our water supply clean. This is an |
| of treatment, or the filtration systems that are used | | | | important step for water cleanliness among |
| in each place. | | | | companies. For families concerned about keeping their |
| While places like Sudan must build sustainable | | | | water supply healthy, a water distiller is the best |
| aqueducts and effective filtration systems, US water | | | | solution. |
| agencies must stress to the public that though our | | | | |