All Troubled Water stories
Industrial waste pollutes America’s drinking water
Manufacturing, mining and waste disposal companies and dozens of others provide millions of jobs and services to Americans, but they are also among the country’s worst water polluters.
Crumbling pipes, tainted water plague black communities
Skepticism about drinking water is pervasive through many black communities in northern cities and in pockets of poverty throughout the south.
Troubled Water documentary
Troubled Water is a 30-minute documentary about drinking water contamination in America.
Farming activity contaminates water despite best practices
Farming communities had thousands of violations of nitrate contamination over the last 10 years. Farmers are trying to contain the issue, but a lack of regulation hinders progress.
Fear of the unknown: The effect of water contamination on health
Many Americans don’t always know what’s in their water – and even when they do, scientists can’t always make definitive connections between tainted water and health problems.
Colonias on the border struggle with decades-old water issues
Some border communities called colonias don't have the funding or the representation to get their water issues fixed. Officials don't have the resources to help them.
Schools fail lead tests while many states don’t require testing at all
While schools often struggle with the aftermath of finding lead in their drinking water, education advocates and health professionals agree that there’s an even costlier scenario: not knowing at all.
Military bases' contamination will affect water for generations
Hundreds of military bases nationwide have been contaminated with toxic chemicals for decades.
Native American tribes fight for clean water and more money
Tribes are struggling to get the attention and funding necessary to clean the water their people rely on.
Millions consumed potentially unsafe water in the last 10 years
As many as 63 million Americans were exposed to potentially unsafe water more than once during the past decade, according to a News21 investigation.
Taxpayers pay billions for industrial contamination cleanup
American taxpayers spend millions cleaning up water sources contaminated by dangerous chemicals.
Lax oversight puts millions of private well users at risk
Most of the 43 million Americans who rely on private wells don’t know if their water is safe to drink.