Tap water legal but may be unhealthy

[The Straight Story]

Tap water legal but may be unhealthy

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Tap water may be legally safe but in reality could pose serious health risks because the 35-year-old federal law regulating it is out of date, scientists say.

Ninety-one contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated more than 60,000 chemicals are used within the United States, some of which could be considered dangerous.

Among those thousands of extra chemicals scrutinized by scientists, hundreds have been associated with a risk of cancer and other diseases at small concentrations in drinking water, The New York Times reported in its analysis of U.S. drinking water test data.

Still, not one chemical has been added to the list of those regulated by law since 2000, its report said.

More than 62 million Americans have been exposed since 2004 to drinking water that did not meet at least one commonly used government health guideline, the report said.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/12/17/Tap-water-legal-but-may-be-unhealthy/UPI-45421261057439/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. And some companies that produce bottled water get their product from tapwater.

You really can't be sure anymore.

[cali]

3. you can be sure if you have your own well

I don't but my village water comes from a spring.

[Brickbat]

2. Thankful, once again, that I have well water.

[timeforpeace]

4. Unless people start getting sick from it, let's assume it's healthy.