FluksAqua recently released a localised analysis of health-based drinking water violations focused on the county and city level, based on a nationwide examination of water contamination data reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2015 and 2016.

FluksAqua used the publicly-available Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database to analyse the data at a granular level – this allowed it to provide counties and cities with valuable technical information they need in order to educate the public and empower their water service providers.

The data set, which is available online as an interactive infographic, focuses on potentially harmful health-based violations such as arsenic, coliforms, radionuclides, nitrates, and disinfection by-products.

FluksAqua created an infographic for each state, based on Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violations, including the number of health-based violations, the population affected and the duration of the violation.

“Water quality can be impacted by a number of factors, some beyond the control of the water system and not every violation has direct health implications,” said Hubert Colas, president, FluksAquaAmericas.

“It is important to ensure this kind of data collection continues so it can be tracked and analysed to continually improve the national water infrastructure. Many states have made impressive progress in effectively addressing their water quality concerns in 2016.”

Drinking water violations indicate a public water system’s failure to meet an EPA-mandated drinking water standard, but not all violations result in a health issue. A health-based violation indicates a failure in operation or treatment that can affect public health.

States with health-based violations by utilities servicing at least 10% of the population in 2015 or 2016 were Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

“Many people take their drinking water for granted when they turn on the tap because water professionals do an excellent job of maintaining the system,” Colas said. “There is a great deal of expertise involved in delivering safe, clean drinking water to a house and it needs to be appreciated. Water utilities across the country should be commended for reporting their violations and working to mitigate the most important issues.”