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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
A high level overview that was well done. Wish there was more exploration into the politics/money stopping these changes. At the end, the author discussed high level things that need to change, and I had to stop myself from yelling "But our congress would never allow it!" It's one thing to point out that we need to consolidate water treatment management but it left a gap of "we could never make that happen" that wasn't addressed.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Some valid criticisms of the drinking water sector but also some broad generalizations about water utilities, very few of which he seems to have talked to.
The USGS (United States Geological Service) has an interesting Water Science School document called "The Water in You: Water in the Human Body." In it we learn that all told, the human body is composed of about 60% water. Some organs and tissues have higher water content than others, for instance our lungs are about 83% water, kidneys about 79%, brain and heart about 73% and even our bones are about 31% water. One should consider where that water comes from and what is in that water that makes up us. Do you want your lungs, kidneys, brain, etc to become saturated with any contaminants? A quick look at Flint, Michigan and you can see that, no, you do not want unsafe drinking water in your body. But how safe is America's water? Reader, you should be asking this question in your town, your state, and of your legislators. And you should go armed with facts.
Troubled Water, my non-fiction read for September, provides a deeply unsettling look at drinking water in America. Siegel explains in rich detail the gross inadequacies of the Environmental Protection Agency, whose abbreviated list of about ninety "regulated contaminants" is dwarfed by more than 120,000 compounds, pharmaceuticals, and plastics that could influence water quality and safety. No one is looking for those contaminants. No one regulates them. And we are not just talking about tap water from a public source or a private well whose watershed may be contaminated by decades of manufacturing runoffs. Bottled water is just as poorly regulated. In fact, in many instances, it is totally unregulated. So if you were drinking bottled water thinking it was safer, you might want to think again. From perfluorinated contaminants to estrogens to microplastics, the drinking water in this country is something that should concern every citizen. It affects humans, our pets, our crops, and the plant and animal protein we consume. In short, the poorly regulated and analyzed so-called potable water problem affects everything around us.
This book is extremely accessible and any layperson can and should read it. The important thrust of this book, pushing the EPA to do more to protect Americans by regulating drinking water more consistently, efficiently, and with the public interest in mind, is something that should be on every citizen's mind. And further, setting local and state standards for better filtration of drinking water, so that unregulated contaminants don't find their way into our food supply and kitchen water. Because clearly, relying on the slow-moving EPA is a foolhardy thing.
An excellent book.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
Troubled Water, my non-fiction read for September, provides a deeply unsettling look at drinking water in America. Siegel explains in rich detail the gross inadequacies of the Environmental Protection Agency, whose abbreviated list of about ninety "regulated contaminants" is dwarfed by more than 120,000 compounds, pharmaceuticals, and plastics that could influence water quality and safety. No one is looking for those contaminants. No one regulates them. And we are not just talking about tap water from a public source or a private well whose watershed may be contaminated by decades of manufacturing runoffs. Bottled water is just as poorly regulated. In fact, in many instances, it is totally unregulated. So if you were drinking bottled water thinking it was safer, you might want to think again. From perfluorinated contaminants to estrogens to microplastics, the drinking water in this country is something that should concern every citizen. It affects humans, our pets, our crops, and the plant and animal protein we consume. In short, the poorly regulated and analyzed so-called potable water problem affects everything around us.
This book is extremely accessible and any layperson can and should read it. The important thrust of this book, pushing the EPA to do more to protect Americans by regulating drinking water more consistently, efficiently, and with the public interest in mind, is something that should be on every citizen's mind. And further, setting local and state standards for better filtration of drinking water, so that unregulated contaminants don't find their way into our food supply and kitchen water. Because clearly, relying on the slow-moving EPA is a foolhardy thing.
An excellent book.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
In his second book, Siegel explores drinking water in the U.S. and the surprising lack of regulation of the industry. In the wake of environmental disasters linked to water – Parkersburg, Flint, Newark, Hoosick Falls (where the book starts) – Siegel dives into how we got into these messes, how regulatory agencies and politicians failed us, and how we ended up with dangerous drinking water linked to cancer and other health problems.
Part of the root of the problem is the lack of regulatory oversight. The EPA only regulates 90 contaminants, which is far too little compared to the thousands of chemicals being produced (and more being produced each year). The sheer number of plastic water bottles seems to indicate a general distrust of municipal drinking water utilities, which drives other problems like plastic pollution, argued Siegel.
Going over the history of regulatory drinking water oversight and legislation in the U.S., combined with the history of lead pipes in America’s infrastructure and the inefficiency of tens of thousands of water utilities, Siegel details the steps that led to this mess and how governments, municipalities and private utilities all ended up playing different (often inefficient) roles in delivery safe drinking water to citizens.
Meanwhile, this inefficiency of the system is seen in the problems that arrive in cities — from microplastics to new chemicals to lead to pharmaceuticals, all of which enter our water and aren’t responded to until after the effects have shown up in populations.
Overall, Siegel argues for a more proactive response to drinking water contaminants, rooted in more testing. But it’s an uphill battle. For such a big environmental issue, drinking water has a surprisingly small number of advocates or advocacy organizations. Mindsets need to be changed, solutions like reusing wastewater need to be explored, and water utilities need to be consolidated. Only then can we all be guaranteed contaminant-free water that is safe to drink.
Part of the root of the problem is the lack of regulatory oversight. The EPA only regulates 90 contaminants, which is far too little compared to the thousands of chemicals being produced (and more being produced each year). The sheer number of plastic water bottles seems to indicate a general distrust of municipal drinking water utilities, which drives other problems like plastic pollution, argued Siegel.
Going over the history of regulatory drinking water oversight and legislation in the U.S., combined with the history of lead pipes in America’s infrastructure and the inefficiency of tens of thousands of water utilities, Siegel details the steps that led to this mess and how governments, municipalities and private utilities all ended up playing different (often inefficient) roles in delivery safe drinking water to citizens.
Meanwhile, this inefficiency of the system is seen in the problems that arrive in cities — from microplastics to new chemicals to lead to pharmaceuticals, all of which enter our water and aren’t responded to until after the effects have shown up in populations.
Overall, Siegel argues for a more proactive response to drinking water contaminants, rooted in more testing. But it’s an uphill battle. For such a big environmental issue, drinking water has a surprisingly small number of advocates or advocacy organizations. Mindsets need to be changed, solutions like reusing wastewater need to be explored, and water utilities need to be consolidated. Only then can we all be guaranteed contaminant-free water that is safe to drink.
As a person who has studied water policy and worked in a water division for state government, this book fell so short in my opinion. I can see why it received a lot of positive reviews, as it does read easily for the general public. But unfortunately, similar to other water books, Siegel oversimplified many things and made some statement that are quite inaccurate. He did tackle some subjects well, however.
I agree that we are sadly left with water that is "less safe than we deserve" (xiv). It's interesting that he wrote that there aren't technically villains, but "culprits and bystanders" (x). The process for blame is difficult, as we all, in some form, affect our own water quality. It's also interesting that he praised Pat Mulroy from the Southern Nevada Water Authority while other books/scholars have strongly criticized her for promoting large growth in Las Vegas (which will be water intensive). To each his own, I guess. And it also certainly doesn't sound good when our water infrastructure involves the use of PVC pipe, which can leach plasticy chemicals. But, what else are we going to use?
There are so many chemicals in use that aren't regulated, but there is no possible way for every possible thing to be eliminated from our water. This would be ideal, but Siegel seems to think this is possible if we try (264). In addition, there is no such thing as "pure" water. Water will always have pollutants; pollutants aren't always bad. Fluoride and other things are in water and are beneficial, and can be considered pollutants, which Siegel would infer are bad. Siegel suggests that it would be better to let "impartial, highly qualified experts" decide about contaminants in the water, which isn't as great as it sounds. Eventually, politics and personal goals will be involved.
Also, BOTTLED WATER IS NOT SAFER THAN MUNICIPAL WATER. He writes that bottled water is "often safer than tap water" (104); IT IS NOT. He mentions all the problems with bottled water, but yet he doesn't seem to understand. Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, and they rarely have the resources to fully monitor bottled water, not to mention bottled water bottled and sold within the same state aren't subject to regulation at all. And, most of the time, bottled water IS TAP WATER. And for those brands that Siegel mentions as more pure/natural, like Fiji, actually have many problems with them if you do a simple Google search. I'm ashamed that he fell for advertising tricks. He confuses the reader by saying bottled water is safer, yet also says it's not.
Siegel does make an interesting point here: "federal water law continues to mostly give hospitals a free pass, allowing them and other health-related facilities to dispose of their wastewater not much differently than an ordinary homeowner connected to the municipal water grid" (87). And yet, factories and feedlots are regulated in some degree under the Clean Water Act. Thought provoking idea, since pharmaceuticals in drinking water are rarely on anyone's radar, especially those in decision-making roles (let alone all the other nastiness and chemicals that come from hospitals).
Siegel does make another valid point that when "clean water" is mentioned, it's usually about rivers and lakes, not drinking water. The environmentalist movement is largely unconcerned about drinking water, and therefore there's a shortage of staff and funds to lobby for stronger drinking water standards. Environmentalists are also very concerned with social/environmental justice, yet once again, largely forget about Native American tribes and their immense struggle to have any sort of clean water at all. Siegel did a good job of addressing this.
Lastly, the whole "Toliet to Tap" argument was pretty well written. "Without a second thought, we sleep on sheets that others slept on in hotels and we use spoons that others used for their soup in restaurants. The sheets and spoons have been cleaned, and other people's sewage can be cleaned, too." Yet, no one seems to be okay with reusing water. Siegel tackled this well.
I agree that we are sadly left with water that is "less safe than we deserve" (xiv). It's interesting that he wrote that there aren't technically villains, but "culprits and bystanders" (x). The process for blame is difficult, as we all, in some form, affect our own water quality. It's also interesting that he praised Pat Mulroy from the Southern Nevada Water Authority while other books/scholars have strongly criticized her for promoting large growth in Las Vegas (which will be water intensive). To each his own, I guess. And it also certainly doesn't sound good when our water infrastructure involves the use of PVC pipe, which can leach plasticy chemicals. But, what else are we going to use?
There are so many chemicals in use that aren't regulated, but there is no possible way for every possible thing to be eliminated from our water. This would be ideal, but Siegel seems to think this is possible if we try (264). In addition, there is no such thing as "pure" water. Water will always have pollutants; pollutants aren't always bad. Fluoride and other things are in water and are beneficial, and can be considered pollutants, which Siegel would infer are bad. Siegel suggests that it would be better to let "impartial, highly qualified experts" decide about contaminants in the water, which isn't as great as it sounds. Eventually, politics and personal goals will be involved.
Also, BOTTLED WATER IS NOT SAFER THAN MUNICIPAL WATER. He writes that bottled water is "often safer than tap water" (104); IT IS NOT. He mentions all the problems with bottled water, but yet he doesn't seem to understand. Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, and they rarely have the resources to fully monitor bottled water, not to mention bottled water bottled and sold within the same state aren't subject to regulation at all. And, most of the time, bottled water IS TAP WATER. And for those brands that Siegel mentions as more pure/natural, like Fiji, actually have many problems with them if you do a simple Google search. I'm ashamed that he fell for advertising tricks. He confuses the reader by saying bottled water is safer, yet also says it's not.
Siegel does make an interesting point here: "federal water law continues to mostly give hospitals a free pass, allowing them and other health-related facilities to dispose of their wastewater not much differently than an ordinary homeowner connected to the municipal water grid" (87). And yet, factories and feedlots are regulated in some degree under the Clean Water Act. Thought provoking idea, since pharmaceuticals in drinking water are rarely on anyone's radar, especially those in decision-making roles (let alone all the other nastiness and chemicals that come from hospitals).
Siegel does make another valid point that when "clean water" is mentioned, it's usually about rivers and lakes, not drinking water. The environmentalist movement is largely unconcerned about drinking water, and therefore there's a shortage of staff and funds to lobby for stronger drinking water standards. Environmentalists are also very concerned with social/environmental justice, yet once again, largely forget about Native American tribes and their immense struggle to have any sort of clean water at all. Siegel did a good job of addressing this.
Lastly, the whole "Toliet to Tap" argument was pretty well written. "Without a second thought, we sleep on sheets that others slept on in hotels and we use spoons that others used for their soup in restaurants. The sheets and spoons have been cleaned, and other people's sewage can be cleaned, too." Yet, no one seems to be okay with reusing water. Siegel tackled this well.
informative
slow-paced
I don’t think this is a perfect description of our current drinking water industry and it is definitely bias against public water providers but at the same time I think it can be really beneficial. It highlights some of the biggest issues like bottled water, lack of contamination regulation, inability of the different stages of government to properly do their job due to lack of funding and man power, a need for regionalization, and the overall concerns surrounding affordability for water users as well as municipalities to afford needed infrastructure repairs. It was really interesting reading this and seeing how things have changed due to covid. I’d be curious to see what this author might publish in the future regarding this topic.
Interesting. Feel like it relies a little bit on shock value. Fairly condemning luck at public waterworks. I don’t think I have enough knowledge base here to really evaluate this in context
medium-paced