Water Supply Problem - Article Example

In the United States, the quality of water is degrading due to the irresponsible behavior of regulatory agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the last five years, there have been over 500,000 violations of the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act was created in 1977. “The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters” (Epa).

The problem with the water supply in many parts of the United States is a major health epidemic that must be dealt with. The biggest loser right now of the issues associated with the polluted water in many regions of the United States is the consumer. The toxic water is causing serious illnesses including cancer, liver damage, and damage to the nervous system. The reason the water is causing these diseases is that the water has high concentrations of toxins and chemicals such as arsenic, barium, lead, and manganese within the water. The problem was not caused by forces of nature, it is man-made. Many large corporations are violating the Clean Water Act by improperly disposing of chemical waste which is reaching our rivers, lagoons, and lakes. The economic consequences of this problem are scary. The incidence of cancer could increase significantly if corrections are not taken to deal with the issue. Clay Massey, a six-year-old kid, suffers from scabs on his arms, chest, and legs that were caused by the toxic water in his region. The economic problems that the toxic water is causing are huge because thousands if not millions of Americans are getting sick due to low-quality water. The healthcare system in America is already suffering from inflationary forces. The toxic water epidemic will further cause higher inflation as more people begin to get sick from the polluted water.

The quality of life of many Americans is going down as they are been forced to purchase bottled gallons of water. A gallon of purified water cost around $1 and each person is supposed to consume a minimum of one gallon per day. A family of five people would have to spend at least 150 dollars a month just on bottled water to meet their minimal water consumption needs. One of the problems with the controversy is that there is no absolute certainty that the polluted water is causing cancer since the real factors or variables that cause cancer are unknown, but in regards to dental care it has been proven that the toxic water is deteriorating the teeth and its enamel. The U.S. water utilities companies can reach market efficiency only if they provide a quality product that people are satisfied with. Many Americans do not understand how is it possible that the United States which is one of the richest countries in the world with a gross domestic product per capita of $46,300 could be facing so many problems with its water supply in so many locations in America (CultureGrams).

Many corporations are violating EPA regulations including the Clean Water Act by failing to report emission dumping toxins in the earth’s ecosystem. The Clean Water Act strictly limits and monitors 91 chemicals or contaminants in tap water. Many states are arguing that they need more funding from the federal government to deal with the problem of water contamination. This is a very serious issue because people are getting sick from drinking tap water and in some cases, the pollution is so severe that exposure to water during showers is causing allergic reactions in the skin of humans.

The United States Congress and President Obama have to intervene and find solutions to the problem. The EPA organization needs a new executive administration since the current people in charge are not doing their jobs. The EPA has to get tougher on the application of its bylaws because a lot of companies are taking advantage of the relaxed position of the agency which is not being proactive in the application of its laws and regulations. A new agency should be created to deal only with the application and monitoring of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.