A new beginning for America's waterways

We’ve come a long way since 1972, when the Clean Water Act promised clean, safe water for all Americans. Yet the promise is still unkept.

A recent investigation by The New York Times found sewage overflowing treatment systems, farm runoff polluting wells, and scores of illegal polluters escaping punishment.

The main problem is that while the Clean Water Act works to protect drinking water and iconic waterways such as the Rio Grande, it does not protect many of the smaller streams and rivers that feed these waterways. There are also numerous loopholes which allow corporations to dump toxic chemicals directly into these waterways.

Wasting our waterways

This October, Environment New Mexico released a report entitled “Wasting Our Waterways: Industrial Toxic Pollution and the Unfulfilled Promise of the Clean Water Act” which showed that industrial facilities dumped 56,700 pounds of toxic chemicals into New Mexico’s waterways in 2007, the most recent year for which data is available.

The report also found that toxic chemicals were discharged in 1,900 waterways across all 50 states. While nearly half of the rivers and lakes in the U.S. are considered too polluted for safe fishing or swimming, our report showed that polluters continue to use our waterways as dumping grounds for their toxic chemicals.

Environment New Mexico’s report summarizes the discharge of cancer-causing chemicals, chemicals that persist in the environment, and chemicals with the potential to cause reproductive problems ranging from birth defects to reduced fertility. Among the toxic chemicals discharged by facilities are lead, mercury, and dioxin. In 2007, manufacturing facilities discharged approximately 1.5 million pounds of cancer-causing chemicals into American waters.

To remedy the problems, we need tougher enforcement, money to upgrade sewage plants, and steps to prevent pollution at the source. There are common-sense steps that should be taken to turn the tide against toxic pollution of our waters. We need clean water now, and we need the federal government to act to protect our health and our environment.