drinking water

The interior of the Flint water plant is seen on Sept. 14 in Flint, Mich. The city is still struggling to replace thousands of corroded lead pipes that tainted drinking water.

National

In Year Since Water Crisis Began, Flint Struggles In Pipe Replacement Efforts

6:14pm September 30, 2016

by NPR Staff

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Laura Sullivan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Kettering University, about the difficulties in replacing thousands of lead pipes that contaminated water in Flint.

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Giant Sinkhole At Florida Plant Leaks Polluted Water Into State Aquifer

5:09pm September 29, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

A fertilizer company says third-party tests show the water contaminated with low-level radiation has not leaked off the site into nearby wells. Residents are upset they were not informed for weeks.

For months, Security, Colo., resident Brenda Piontkowski has regularly visited this vending station to collect drinking water for her family.

Chemicals In Drinking Water Prompt Inspections Of U.S. Military Bases

6:54pm September 15, 2016

by Grace Hood

Synthetic chemicals have been found in Colorado water supplies. The Pentagon is examining hundreds of military sites for possible contamination by PFCs, which have been linked to health problems.

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The Flint River in downtown Flint, Mich. The state's attorney general, Bill Schuette, announced felony and misdemeanor charges Friday against six state employees in connection with the lead-contamination of the city's drinking water

They 'Failed': 6 More Michigan Employees Charged In Flint Water Crisis

6:30pm July 29, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

In announcing the charges, Michigan's attorney general said those accused attempted to "bury or cover up, downplay or hide information" about elevated lead levels in Flint's water supply.

Lead pipes like this one still bring water into many U.S. homes.

Are Your Pipes Made Of Lead? Here's A Quick Way To Find Out

2:23pm June 24, 2016

Flint, Mich., brought the risk of lead pipes to many people's attention, but the problems go further. Find out if lead pipes could be affecting your drinking water.

People participate in a national mile-long march in February to highlight the push for clean water in Flint, Mich.

National

Lead-Laced Water In Flint: A Step-By-Step Look At The Makings Of A Crisis

6:38pm April 20, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, Mich., has causing a major public health crisis and prompted President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency. This is how it unfolded.

Chicago's North Broadway Street has been undergoing water main upgrades in the past few weeks, with more work scheduled this year. The upgrades are part of the city's 10-year plan to replace 900 miles of water pipes.

Chicago's Upgrades To Aging Water Lines May Disturb Lead Pipes

9:22am April 14, 2016

by Cheryl Corley

The city's 10-year plan to replace 900 miles of old pipes has been met with praise and criticism — and a lawsuit from residents who say the pipe work has raised lead levels in their drinking water.

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How Do We Get Our Drinking Water In The U.S.?

4:59am April 14, 2016

by Zhai Yun Tan

Clean, safe drinking water is essential to life. To get that water, however, requires a sludge of chemicals, countless testings — and different treatment processes depending on where you live.

A Madison Water Utility Crew works to dig up and replace a broken water shutoff box in preparation for a larger pipe-lining project. Madison started using copper instead of lead pipes in the late 1920s.

Avoiding A Future Crisis, Madison Removed Lead Water Pipes 15 Years Ago

5:40am April 01, 2016

by Cheryl Corley

The water crisis in Flint, Mich., raised an alarm about the dangers of lead in our water supply, but it is not new knowledge. Madison, Wis., knew about it and removed all its lead pipes 15 years ago.

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The village of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., sits along the Hoosick River in eastern New York. Elevated levels of a suspected carcinogen known as PFOA were found in the village's well water, which is now filtered.

Elevated Levels Of Suspected Carcinogen Found In States' Drinking Water

4:57pm March 31, 2016

by Hansi Lo Wang

A chemical widely used to make many water-resistant and nonstick items can be found in many community water supplies. But elevated levels of PFOA are turning up in three Northeastern states.

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