Wetlands, Aquifers, Rivers, Lakes and Oceans: What's In Our Water?
1. Fifty years ago, a groundbreaking investigation by Consumer Reports found that the nation's drinking water was often contaminated with bacteria, viruses, asbestos, and lead. Later that year, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act was passed, which authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set legal limits on contaminants in drinking water. While there are now 90,000 synthetic chemicals in our environment, the EPA regulates only 90 of them, such as E. coli and lead. The U.S. Geological Survey finds that almost half of the nation's tap water could contain at least one of these harmful unregulated compounds, such as PFAS ("forever" chemicals), which reveals how far regulation lags behind industry's ability to develop and unleash new and potentially harmful chemicals into the environment. Whether your water comes from a public utility or a private well, the EPA recommends testing using a certified lab (go to epa.gov/dwlabcert). Any alarming results should be reported to your local utility, and if they are not responsive, contact your local officials to put the pressure on.
2. Our oceans are crucial for preserving Earth's fragile ecosystems, but they are threatened by overfishing, shipping, mining and mounting global pollution. A study published in the PLOS one journal found that our oceans are filled with more than 170 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing roughly 2.4 million metric tons and doubling about every six years. An explosion in plastics production since 2004 has resulted in the world's oceans containing more than 21,000 pieces of plastic for each person on Earth. Twice this past year, the world came together to address this issue of common concern: 1) nearly 200 countries agreed to a plan called "30 by 30" that would conserve 30% of land, sea and inland waterways by 2030 to allow wildlife to survive; and 2) an ocean pact covering two-thirds of the sea's surface beyond the waters generally controlled by nations that would preserve ocean biodiversity and address pollution. These aspirational plans require ratification by each country, so encourage your elected officials to give them a fair hearing and sign them.
3. Wetlands, which make up 6% of land and hold 12% of the Earth's carbon, filter out pollutants and sediment before they head downstream, greatly improving water quality. They slow flooding during extreme rains, protecting communities and shorelines from flooding and erosion, and can also delay the onslaught of drought. Wetlands provide habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl as well as spawning grounds and nursery areas for fish. Yet a fifth of the Earth's wetlands have been destroyed by humans over the past three centuries, a cumulative area larger than India. 62% of the total loss is due to drying out wetlands to grow crops, while other major contributors include deforestation, extraction of peat, the creation of pastures, rice fields or cities. The U.S. is responsible for more than 15% of the global loss, with China second at 12%. Flooding exacerbated by wetland loss could cost communities millions per year in cleanup and disaster relief efforts. Check out your state's laws on wetland preservation, and urge your elected officials to enforce them.
4. Among the well-documented sources of pollution, such as chemical manufacturers, energy plants, mining operations, and agricultural processes, another major source of contamination to our nation's waterways is pharmaceuticals and personal care products. According to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, there were over 3.7 billion drugs ordered or provided through physician visits alone in 2015, and these chemical compounds are showing up in the nation's rivers, lakes, groundwater, and drinking water - even in remote parts of national parks. Up to 80% of streams in the U.S. are contaminated with chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The primary culprit is human waste that enters wastewater treatment plants unequipped to filter out these potent contaminants, but USGS found that levels of pollution were even higher in wastewater received from drug manufacturing facilities. The costs to filter these and other contaminants such as PFAS ("forever chemicals") are staggering, and while the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that became law in November 2021 included the country's largest-ever investment in drinking water ($55 billion), it is considered "basically a small down payment" on addressing America's water pollution problem.
5. Scientists at the U of MN and at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Maine have developed a new technology for counting the tiniest pieces of plastic (microplastics) in our waterways, and found 600-1,500 pieces in each liter of Lake Superior water taken from a half-dozen locations on the lake and in the St. Louis River Estuary. Consumed by small organisms and fish, the particles can pass into the stomachs and bloodstreams, and perhaps the brains, of humans, and are often mixed with harmful chemicals and can even transport disease pathogens and pollutants. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found 110,000-400,000 bits of plastic per liter of bottled water, most of which likely came from the bottle itself and the filtering system used during the bottling process. Be supportive of legislation seeking to manage pop bottles, plastic bags, poly-fleece clothing and more that break down into harmful microplastics.

Laura Raedeke
EcoFaith Network NE MN Team
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN
Northeastern Minnesota Synod