Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
compromised by agricultural and industrial pollution, includ-
ing nitrates; Albuquerque, New Mexico's groundwater is over-
taxed and threatened by pollutants from numerous sources.
That study concluded that pollution, deteriorating waterworks,
and out-of-date water-treatment technology sometimes led to health
risks. Only one city's water, Chicago's, was rated “excellent.” The
study isn't environmentalist banter or propaganda. It was peer-
reviewed for accuracy and impartiality by independent experts.
Water contamination doesn't happen only on a citywide scale,
and sometimes the perpetrators don't even realize it's occurring. It
happens to individual homeowners, too, with what can be devastat-
ing results. Steve McIver found that out fi rsthand when he and his
wife wanted to sell their West Deptford Township, New Jersey,
home. As is customary in their area, where many homes have fur-
naces that use oil stored in underground tanks, they had to have
their oil tank certifi ed as sound before they could sell the home.
However, the state inspector wouldn't certify the tank after soil
tests hinted at a problem. When the tank was removed, it turned
out to have a “small” leak, says McIver. “I never saw more oil than
somewhere between the size of a fi st and a grapefruit. But they dug
dirt out by the dump-truck full.”
Fortunately for McIver's pocketbook, but not so fortunately for
the state of New Jersey, the oil had reached the water table. The
water is owned by the state of New Jersey, so McIver's homeowner's
insurance handled the roughly $45,000 cleanup as a liability claim.
“If it hadn't reached the water table, we would have had to pay
for all of it out of pocket,” McIver says. “I know one person who
had a similar situation with a heating oil tank, but the oil hadn't
reached the water table. He had to pay $100,000 out of pocket and
ended up declaring bankruptcy.”
Less than Pure Tap Water
An Associated Press investigation also found more than water coming
out of the tap in a number of cities across the country. In a 2008
study, the news organization found traces of pharmaceuticals includ-
ing sex hormones, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, and
