More than 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years, according to a New York Times analysis of federal data.

The Times says water provided to more than 49 million people in the last five years “has contained illegal concentrations of chemicals like arsenic or radioactive substances like uranium, as well as dangerous bacteria often found in sewage.”

Furthermore, says the Times,

Studies indicate that drinking water contaminants are linked to millions of instances of illness within the United States each year.
- Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show

The New York Times says it has compiled and analyzed millions of records from water systems and regulators around the nation, as part of a series of articles about worsening pollution in American waters, and regulators’ response.

Frankly, I’m glad NYT has had the generosity to fund this kind of study. Eventually we have to learn that bad politics will kill us. An E.P.A spokeswoman is quoted in the NYT article as saying:

The previous eight years provide a perfect example of what happens when political leadership fails to act to protect our health and the environment.

This is E.P.A. itself telling us that the previous administration didn’t care enough about the common citizenry to enforce our safe water laws. The Obama administration is making it a top priority. We’re going to have to become political people purely to live healthy lives.

Or else be very local. Once again, the lesson is you can’t trust anyone regarding what you eat or drink except people you know.

One doctor in a small town in Canada noticed a link between lawn chemicals being used by patients and harm to their children and themselves. Because of her activism, that small town defied huge corporations and banned lawn pesticides and herbicides, taking its right to do so all the way to the Supreme Court, and winning. More small towns have followed this lead, including now the entire province of Quebec, and this is changing the world.

The movie about this event – one of the most inspiring acts of change brought about by small players – is called A Chemical Reaction, and is now on release. Take a look at this trailer, and ask yourself if your own city council could be persuaded to act so courageously.

We don’t know yet if or when or how this film is going to show in Central Texas – it’s scheduled already for some locations across the U.S.

We’d like to help organize screenings – if you’d like to help us in this effort please contact Ross Hunter at editor@communityfoodmarkets.com.

You can support the film directly at Safe Lawns.org and learn more about the movie at A Chemical Reaction.