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Flash flood shows need for better stormwater restoration plans
On Saturday, July 30th, a flash flood devastated Ellicott City. Approximately six inches of rain fell in two hours, which carried away over 100 vehicles and caused millions of dollars of damage to the City’s roads, sidewalks, and buildings. Not only was there severe destruction of infrastructure, but the storm also killed two people who were swept away by the water. Downtown Ellicott City has been evacuated, and no one knows how long the residents and businesses will be displaced. Governor Hogan has declared a state of emergency for the area. Although Ellicott City is prone to flooding due to
Preventing Lead by Protecting Water in Massachusetts
Lead in water is the most significant source of lead exposure after lead paint. Lead was a preferred plumbing material, particularly for water service lines, until it was outlawed in 1986. The American Water Works Association estimates between 6-10 million homes are connected to a lead service line. Lead in Water: A Health Hazard Lead exposure isn’t good for anyone; but pregnant women and young children are most affected. Physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a
Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC): An Early Warning Sign
People and industry use tens of thousands of chemicals. A vast array of these chemicals have been found in our environment, where we consider them contaminants of emerging concern or CECs. Most of these CECs have not been fully evaluated for the risks they might pose to the environment— or to our health.
Background: Federal Regulation of Lead in Drinking Water
For our introduction to lead and drinking water, click here. The Federal Government regulates lead in drinking water, primarily through the Lead and Copper Rule. Lead and Copper Rule Adopted as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1991 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)'s purpose is to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper exposure at the tap. The LCR requires water systems to monitor the drinking water they provide and control for corrosion. Because lead can get into drinking water at various points throughout the system, as well
Harmful Algal Outbreaks and Drinking Water
Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms happen most often where there are high levels of nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus present in warm, still waters like lakes, ponds, or reservoirs. They can also occur in rivers, especially during summer months. Aquatic ecosystems need nutrients to thrive but fertilizer runoff from agriculture, sewage and industrial discharges, and urban stormwater have added an excessive of nutrients into many of our nation’s bays, lakes and rivers.
