THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1995  USA  TODAY


Deregulation to bring polluted drinking water
 
     The new Congress continues to downsize and de-
  regulate many aspects of government.
 
  ..These related problems can be devastating.   

                                                          Sentinel Star, Sunday, March 7, 1982

Water blamed for illness
States violating safety rules, report says

United Press  International

   The GAO also cited an EPA estimate that 13,600 com-
munity water systems cannot meet any federal water quality
standards unless their facilities are improved.

   The report did not include a list of communities in which
violations were found.

..between 1992 and 1993 almost 50 million Americans
drank water from systems more contaminated than present health standards allow ; over 20 million drank from pesticide-poisoned water ; more than 36 million were exposed to fecal bacteria and cancer-causing chemi-
cals ; and nearly 1 million citizens got sick and 1,000
died each year from contaminated tap water.

  Yet, despite these horrifying statistics, a House sub-
committee approved a bill that would ease water
pollution-control requirements.

..the GAO said that in fiscal 1980 there were more than 146,000 violations of drinking water regulations. the violations, they said, were in 28,000 of the nation's 65,000
community water systems.

"..from 1961 through 1978 drinking water caused 407 out-
breaks of disease or poisoning, resulting in 101,243 re-
corded illnesses and at least 22 deaths," the GAO report
said...

                                                               John Pfaehler, chairman
                              Environmental Science Forum PAC
                                                                                  Kutztown, Pa.