Source Water Contamination

1. Material That Breaks Down In Seawater Could Be The Answer To Microplastic Problem 9/8/2025

   Our modern society generates around 460 million metric tons of plastic waste each year, with around 20 million ending up in the environment, particularly water bodies. Plastics take decades to decompose, with some types requiring hundreds of years. Even worse, as they do break down, they form microplastics, which end up being consumed by wildlife and ultimately people.

2. New Carterville Wastewater Facility Project Inches Forward 7/29/2025

   Carterville, Ill., has begun soliciting and evaluating construction bids for a new wastewater treatment facility that will serve the growing city’s 6,000+ residents as well as the surrounding communities of Cambria, Colp, and Crainville. However, rising costs associated with the long-delayed project threaten to heavily impact residents’ water bills.

3. Major Water Regulation Shake-Up In UK 7/24/2025

   With serious water pollution events up 60% in England, the government has recognized a need for an overhaul of the flawed regulation system. The previous regulator, Ofwat, will be scrapped and replaced. The move comes amid growing outrage over sewage pollution, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of accountability from privatized water companies.

4. New Bill Would Lock PFAS Water Standards Into Federal Law 7/2/2025

   As water systems across the country confront the rising uncertainties around PFAS, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced new legislation that aims to provide long-term certainty and protection.

5. U.S., Mexico Fast-Track Solution To Tijuana River Pollutants 6/12/2025

   After UCSD research indicated worsening air and water quality in the San Diego area as a result of wastewater contamination in the Tijuana River, the U.S. EPA and Mexico intend to expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant’s treatment capacity from 25 million gallons per day (MGD) to 35 MGD over the next 100 days.

6. New Genetically Engineered Bacteria Can Quickly Break Down Industrial Compounds 5/27/2025

   Stubborn industrial chemicals such as chlorinated solvents can be a challenge for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as remediation teams trying to clean up contaminated water sources. These compounds can linger in salty or low-oxygen environments where typical treatment methods fall short. However, a new breakthrough in synthetic biology could change that. 

7. Dolphin Sighting In NYC River Bodes Well For Water Quality 3/17/2025

   Recent sightings of two common dolphins in New York City's East River have generated excitement and are viewed by experts as a positive indicator of improving water quality.

8. Supreme Court Rules Against EPA In Water Permitting Case 3/7/2025

   On March 4, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 vote that the U.S. EPA has overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act. According to the majority opinion, the agency does not have the authority “to include ‘end-result’ provisions” when setting specific discharge limits.

9. UCS Study Uncovers Tyson Foods' Massive Pollution Footprint 5/16/2024

   A new study shows Tyson Foods, the second-largest meat processing company in the U.S., dumped more than 371 million pounds of pollutants into U.S. waterways during a five-year period between 2018 and 2022.

10. One Year After Train Derailment, East Palestine Wastewater Disposal Plan Under Fire 2/28/2024

    As a region recovers from one of the most devastating environmental catastrophes in recent memory, its residents are fighting against the disposal plans for the resulting wastewater.