The Role Of Policy In Protecting Water Quality

By Ainsley Lawrence

Water quality has grave, far-reaching consequences for not just public health but also long-term economic stability and environmental sustainability. From a health standpoint, contaminated water can cause disease and chronic health problems, and strain harried healthcare systems. Economically, poor water can disrupt countless industries that depend on high-quality water, such as real estate, tourism, agriculture, and many more. Lastly, water infrastructure aids in preserving biodiversity in the environment while hedging against uncertainty in the face of accelerating climate change.

Businesses, governments, and communities can all play a role in safeguarding water quality by embracing a multifaceted policy framework that integrates modern technology with a focus on mitigating public health risks. Down below we’ll analyze exactly how water quality affects public health, how policy has shaped modern water quality, and what types of policies will be needed in the future.

Impact Of Water Quality On Public Health

Compromised water quality has devastating effects on public health due to rampant exposure to chemical toxins and waterborne pathogens like bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Less obvious health problems like skin irritation and cognitive impairment caused by poor-quality drinking water undermine public health even further. To help protect against these threats, the U.S. EPA follows the Safe Drinking Water Act by monitoring drinking water quality, setting quality standards, and enforcing regulations aimed at reducing the prevalence of toxins/pathogens in drinking water supplies nationwide.

Water pollution due to industrial runoff, insufficient infrastructure, pervasive plastic use, ‘forever chemicals,’ and poor regulations concerning wastewater treatment have had ruinous effects on human health. With 80% of water being dumped into natural bodies of water without treatment, research has found roughly 50% of children’s deaths worldwide are related to unsuitable water quality.

Even the most common waterborne pathogens are considered serious health risks, making health-focused regulation paramount. Let’s explore a few of these contaminants below for a better idea of what threats we face without quality water management systems.

Major waterborne pathogens and toxins include:

• Cholera: Causing severe dehydration, vomiting, and often death, cholera epidemics have been historically common in poor, undeveloped areas with poor water infrastructure.
• Cryptosporidium: Largely spread by animals and especially dangerous to immunocompromised people, this chlorine-resistant bacterium causes diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
• Giardia: This waterborne parasite is most common in rural water supplies like rivers and lakes, causing stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating, and significant weight loss.
• Arsenic: Arsenic contamination from industrial runoff or contaminated agriculture can cause a host of acute and long-term health effects such as increased risk of cancers, skin diseases, GI symptoms, and death.
• Lead: Lead poisoning from corroded lead plumbing can cause long-term neurological damage, cancer, kidney disease, and an array of acute symptoms like headaches, GI problems, and seizures.
• Microplastics: Defined as plastics smaller than 5 mm, microplastics that make their way into the human body can cause metabolic and reproductive issues as well as contribute to cancer.

These pathogens thrive in areas with inadequate water sanitation infrastructure, typically causing gastrointestinal symptoms while sabotaging immune systems. In severe cases, long-term organ damage or death are possibilities that have detrimental effects on healthcare systems and communities. Isolated cases can quickly snowball into widespread outbreaks in the absence of resources, support, or regulatory oversight for water infrastructure.

A Brief History Of The Water Policy Landscape

The very first environmental law in the U.S regulating water was the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. Much of the act concerned waterway navigation, but Section 13 of this act specifically prohibited dumping refuse into navigable water. Like the U.K.’s Rivers Pollution Prevention Act of 1876, these early environmental laws were very limited in scope and largely designed to keep waterways visibly clean. Only later did policies begin targeting drinking water quality and public health concerns with a more sweeping scope.

Modern policy frameworks regulating water quality only go back decades, with the U.S.’s Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1948 being one of the first and most influential predecessors to modern legislation. Since then, policy has made great strides in improving overall water quality, reducing point-source pollution, and establishing comprehensive monitoring systems. These advancements have led to significant reductions in waterborne diseases, improved ecosystem health in many natural waterbodies, and increased public awareness of water quality issues.

The most prominent modern water policy frameworks include:

• Clean Water Act of 1972: The main law regulating water pollution in the U.S., established to regulate water quality levels, limit pollutant discharge into water, and provide legal protections to wetlands nationwide.
• Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974: This federal law allows the EPA to establish minimum quality standards for drinking water from aboveground and underground sources.
• UN Sustainable Development: Goal 6 of this sweeping framework aims to accelerate integrated water resource management, protect wetlands, and provide clean, sanitized water to all people.

The Future Of Water Policy With A Focus On Technology, Health, And Sustainability

Governments, communities, and stakeholders can help diminish the risks of waterborne illness by supporting comprehensive water policy frameworks incorporating new technologies that prioritize health and sustainability. As technology has advanced, regulations have been slow to catch up and integrate new tools, which ultimately leaves valuable tools on the table. Looking ahead, water policy needs to adapt by implementing cutting-edge technologies that can transform how we manage water quality, protect public health, and ensure sustainable water use with the environment’s health in mind.

By integrating these technologies into policy frameworks, we can create more responsive, efficient, and effective water management systems that adapt to emerging threats and changing environmental conditions. Consider some of the technologies below that should be included in new water policy proposals.

Key technologies to include:

• Artificial intelligence (AI): AI’s incredible ability to sift, extrapolate, and connect disparate data points can be used to optimize costly aeration processes in wastewater treatment facilities, potentially slashing energy costs while improving efficiency.
• Disinfection: Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant by far, but can create harmful byproducts — carefully consider alternatives like UV light, peracetic acid, and ozone to optimize existing water management systems.
• Smart valves: With household leaks wasting almost 900 billion gallons of water annually in the U.S., smart valves with remote monitoring can optimize water pressure, detect leaks in real time, and substantially cut water waste across a vast swathe of water distribution infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

While past water policy frameworks were essential foundations to begin building a more secure future for water quality and public health, more work needs to be done. Continuing collaboration is critical to ensure these frameworks can adapt in the face of evolving technological advancements, environmental pressures, and public health concerns. By integrating advanced technologies into water infrastructure and targeting stringent goals in regards to public health and sustainability, we can make tangible progress toward ending water scarcity.