Soil molds recently isolated from water heavily polluted with organic
matter included some which can cause infections if they become established
in the human body and others which produce an active carcinogen [63].
Thus water—the sustainer and protector of life—can become a transmitter
of disease organisms and of both organic and inorganic chemical con—
taminants to man. It has been estimated that each year 500 new chemicals are
added to the list of industrial chemicals in use. It becomes questionable
whether those responsible for monitoring and setting water standards, as well
as devising methods for water treatment, can catch up with the ever-increasing chemical load. Current standards and treatment processes are not ade—
quate to provide water pure enough for drinking and swimming as long as the
sources of community water supplies and the sites of recreational water re—
ceive domestic waste, agricultural and construction runo, and industrial ef—
uent. Reevaluation of present laws and institutions dealing with water is
necessary for the protection of human health.
[l]
Leland ]. McMcCabe, ]ames M. Symons, Roger D. Lee, and Cordon C. Rob—
eck, “Survey of Community Water Supply Systems,” Journal of the American
Water Works Association, November 1970, Vol. 62, No. 11, 670—87.
[2]
The presence
of the coliform group of. bacteria (a group which includes Escherichia coli, an inhabitant of the human intestine) in a drinking water supply in—
dicates that it is contaminated with fecal matter. The Public Health Service
requires that a minimum amount of water samples be routinely checked to be
sure that the number of coliform bacteria is within the limits set in PHS drink—
ing water standards.
[3]
McCabe et al., “Survey of Community Water Supply Systems,” adapted from
Tables 5 and 14, pp.
674 and 679 (see [1]).
[4]
W. H. Durum, ]. D. Hem, and S. G. Heidel, “Reconnaissance of Selected Minor Elements in Surface Waters of the United States, October 1970,” Geologi—
cal Survey Circular 643, (Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Of—
ce, 1971).
[5]
Industrial Pollution of the Lower Mississippi River in Louisiana, Environmen—
tal Protection Agency, Surveillance and Analysis Division, Region VI, Dallas,
Texas, April 1972, pp. 1—146.
[6]
These discharge values did not include a correction for contamination already
——
in the water at the intake, but discharges at other plants where such allow—
ances were made included values up to 889 pounds for lead, 38 pounds for
cadmium, and 188 pounds for chromium.
[7]
Paul R. Craig and Edward Berlin, “The Air of Poverty,” Enviromnent, ]une
1971, Vol. 18, No. 5, 2—9.
[8]
]ulian McCaull, “Building a Shorter Life,” Environment, September 1971, Vol.
13, No. 7, foreword, p.
2.
Notes ond References 169
matter included some which can cause infections if they become established
in the human body and others which produce an active carcinogen [63].
Thus water—the sustainer and protector of life—can become a transmitter
of disease organisms and of both organic and inorganic chemical con—
taminants to man. It has been estimated that each year 500 new chemicals are
added to the list of industrial chemicals in use. It becomes questionable
whether those responsible for monitoring and setting water standards, as well
as devising methods for water treatment, can catch up with the ever-increasing chemical load. Current standards and treatment processes are not ade—
quate to provide water pure enough for drinking and swimming as long as the
sources of community water supplies and the sites of recreational water re—
ceive domestic waste, agricultural and construction runo, and industrial ef—
uent. Reevaluation of present laws and institutions dealing with water is
necessary for the protection of human health.
[l]
Leland ]. McMcCabe, ]ames M. Symons, Roger D. Lee, and Cordon C. Rob—
eck, “Survey of Community Water Supply Systems,” Journal of the American
Water Works Association, November 1970, Vol. 62, No. 11, 670—87.
[2]
The presence
of the coliform group of. bacteria (a group which includes Escherichia coli, an inhabitant of the human intestine) in a drinking water supply in—
dicates that it is contaminated with fecal matter. The Public Health Service
requires that a minimum amount of water samples be routinely checked to be
sure that the number of coliform bacteria is within the limits set in PHS drink—
ing water standards.
[3]
McCabe et al., “Survey of Community Water Supply Systems,” adapted from
Tables 5 and 14, pp.
674 and 679 (see [1]).
[4]
W. H. Durum, ]. D. Hem, and S. G. Heidel, “Reconnaissance of Selected Minor Elements in Surface Waters of the United States, October 1970,” Geologi—
cal Survey Circular 643, (Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Of—
ce, 1971).
[5]
Industrial Pollution of the Lower Mississippi River in Louisiana, Environmen—
tal Protection Agency, Surveillance and Analysis Division, Region VI, Dallas,
Texas, April 1972, pp. 1—146.
[6]
These discharge values did not include a correction for contamination already
——
in the water at the intake, but discharges at other plants where such allow—
ances were made included values up to 889 pounds for lead, 38 pounds for
cadmium, and 188 pounds for chromium.
[7]
Paul R. Craig and Edward Berlin, “The Air of Poverty,” Enviromnent, ]une
1971, Vol. 18, No. 5, 2—9.
[8]
]ulian McCaull, “Building a Shorter Life,” Environment, September 1971, Vol.
13, No. 7, foreword, p.
2.
Notes ond References 169