News & Commentary

Get the Lead Out of Drinking Water in Schools: Model Law

April 24, 2019 Expert BlogJoan Leary Matthews

Lead in drinking water in schools has been in the news over the years, with particular concerns in New York City and Washington, D.C., among other cities. But ever since the recent crisis of lead in drinking water exploded in…

Why Do Some Michigan Water Agencies Oppose the Quest for Safe Water?

April 24, 2019 Expert BlogCyndi Roper

Replacing the state’s lead service lines will be a massive undertaking, but five years after the Flint water crisis, residents deserve no less.

Michigan Should Set Precedent-Setting PFAS Water Standards

April 1, 2019 Expert BlogDr. Anna Reade, Erik D. Olson

Today the Natural Resources Defense Council filed an extensive scientific report making a detailed case for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to establish strict drinking water standards for five chemicals within the PFAS class. We also requested that…

Ohio Gains Ground on a Hidden Hazard: More Than a Century’s Worth of Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells

March 26, 2019 DispatchOhioAustyn Gaffney

Forgotten, derelict, and often leaky, these so-called orphan wells could number in the thousands.

Basic Fairness: Access to Water & Sewer Service in Michigan

March 20, 2019 Expert BlogLarry Levine

In this country, in this day and age, it’s shameful that our public water systems often struggle to provide safe, sufficient, affordable, accessible water for the people those systems were built to serve.

Michigan’s Lead in Drinking Water Protections Under Attack

March 11, 2019 Expert BlogCyndi Roper

Michigan's lead in drinking water protections are being challenged in court by water system leaders who have seen the horrors of poisoned water in Flint and who know of ongoing lead releases in systems throughout the state.

How the Dairy Industry Is Fouling the Drinking Water of These Wisconsinites

March 6, 2019 DispatchWisconsinAustyn Gaffney

With the manure of one mega-dairy already contaminating the water supply and another operation on the drawing board, Central Sands residents have had enough.

EPA Delays Action—Again—on Toxic PFAS Chemicals

February 14, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

This ubiquitous class of chemicals is already present in millions of Americans’ drinking water.

PFAS “Action” Plan Is a Toxic Valentine for Water Drinkers

February 14, 2019 Expert BlogDaniel Rosenberg

The “action plan” to address PFAS chemicals—released by the Agency today in an effort to stem the rising tide of scrutiny and criticism (and oversight)—offers little if any concrete commitments to take action.

Michigan Must Turn the Page on Past Pitfalls

February 13, 2019 Expert BlogJeremy Orr

Michigan Governor and State Legislature must turn the page on past environmental pitfalls and become a national leader on advancing public health and the environment protection.

Jeopardizing Michigan’s Climate and Health Outlook

February 7, 2019 Expert BlogAriana Gonzalez

Michigan’s House voted against Governor Whitmer’s executive order that would better position the government to protect the health and safety of families across the state. The move is more than tone deaf, it’s dangerous, especially as NRDC’s new report underscores…

Pittsburgh Agrees to Terms for Tackling Its Lead-Contaminated Water

February 7, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

The settlement will protect the health of the city’s residents, who have been dealing with lead contamination issues for years.

New Disaster Bill Includes $849M for Water Infrastructure

January 18, 2019 Expert BlogRob Moore

A new disaster supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 268) was passed by the House of Representatives this week. It included $849 million for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems,more resilient and less vulnerable to storms in the future. Typically, federal disaster…

Michigan Cities and Water Utilities Attack Critical Drinking Water Safeguard

December 12, 2018 Expert BlogNRDC

Despite the Flint water crisis that’s plagued residents for years, Michigan’s cities and water utilities are taking aim at a rule that protects the health of thousands of children.

Trump Administration Moves Forward in Rolling Back Clean Water Protections

December 11, 2018 Expert BlogNRDC

The EPA’s new definition of the Obama-era safeguard would allow polluters to dirty our critically important streams, tributaries, and wetlands—and threaten the water supply of millions of Americans.

Flint Misleads Residents on Its Progress Toward Safe Drinking Water

December 4, 2018 Expert BlogNRDC

Thousands of hazardous lead pipes likely remain for removal.

East Ward at Risk for Lead Despite Newark Mayor’s Assurances

December 3, 2018 Expert BlogSara Imperiale, Claire Woods

For most of 2018, the City of Newark’s website promised its residents that “NEWARK’S WATER IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE TO DRINK,” while levels of lead in the City’s tap water skyrocketed.

A Secret War on Lead Protections for Michigan’s Kids

November 27, 2018 Expert BlogCyndi Roper

The latest unreported news is that local elected officials are leading the charge to block the new state protections for our kids against lead-contaminated drinking water.

At Least 82 Percent of New York Public Schools Have a Lead Problem

November 15, 2018 DispatchNew York, New York CityNicole Greenfield

The state now requires its public schools to test their drinking water for lead. But few districts have made it clear how they’re addressing the troubles at their taps.

NYS Drinking Water Quality Council Moves to Regulate PFAS

October 18, 2018 Expert BlogKimberly Ong

After an 8-month lull, the New York State Drinking Water Quality Council broke their silence and finally met to contemplate the regulation of PFOA and PFOS, two toxic chemicals that have been found in drinking water supplies across the country…