"Overall, this study informs a more directed approach to increasing compliance with drinking water quality regulations," says author Maura Allaire, UCI assistant professor of urban planning & public policy. "Identifying hot spots and vulnerability factors associated with violations can allow public policies to target underperforming water systems." Steve Zylius / UCI IRVINE, CA, FEB 26, 2018 -- While serious violations like those in the Flint, Mich., crisis are rare, ensuring reliable ...[READ MORE]

Virtually all the world's tap water is contaminated by microscopic plastic fibers, a new study claims, raising fresh concerns about the implications of rampant plastic pollution on human and planetary health. Some 83% of tap water samples collected from over a dozen countries on five continents tested positive for microplastic, according to a study commissioned by data journalism outlet Orb. The specific rate of prevalence in different locales varied, but all tested locations — from Europe to ...[READ MORE]

In a city with no water, here is a list of items required to break into a warehouse and steal 14 cases of bottled water One (1) hand saw One (1) hammer One (1) hovercraft, capable of zinging over the flooded streets of Beaumont, Texas, at 60 miles an hour. Oh, and permission from the Coca-Cola Company. Fortunately, Bill Zang recently found himself equipped with all four things. At a few minutes after 3 p.m. on Saturday he killed the hovercraft’s engines and floated toward the Coca-Cola warehouse ...[READ MORE]

Although agencies in Orange County are still focused on rescuing people, Jefferson County has turned to getting necessities to its residents. That includes a temporary fix of Beaumont’s water system. “Right now, it’s about trying to return to normal as quickly as possible,” said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. “We’re trying to work with federal and state officials to push the assets that are necessary to the points of distribution where people can come get ice, water, MREs, cots, ...[READ MORE]

When most Americans drink a glass of tap water, they're also getting a dose of industrial or agricultural contaminants linked to cancer, brain and nervous system damage, developmental defects, fertility problems or hormone disruption. That's the disturbing truth documented by EWG's Tap Water Database – the most complete source available on the quality of U.S. drinking water, aggregating and analyzing data from almost 50,000 public water utilities nationwide. The vast majority of the nation's ...[READ MORE]