The Eastern United States doesn’t have the drought conditions of the Western United States. But many other issues significantly impact their drinking water quality and threaten your health!
The cities and towns in the eastern United States are the oldest in our country. Because of this, they have outdated water distribution systems that suffer from deterioration and leaks. Even worse, many of the pipes are made of lead, and that lead, which is a toxic heavy metal, is getting into the drinking water. Public water systems also treat these old pipes with chemicals instead of replacing them. Chemicals like chromium 6 threaten our health as they have been linked to cancer and other health conditions.
The cities with the oldest and potentially most dangerous pipes are:
1) Boston, Massachusetts
2) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3) New York City
4) Baltimore
5) Washington DC
Rustbelt cities, historically associated with heavy industry, also have aging water systems. These cities include:
1) Pittsburgh
2) Cleveland
3) Detroit
4) Buffalo
WARNING: It’s not just old pipes and water systems that you have to worry about!
Some towns, even small ones, also have very old pipes. The towns are in the New England region throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. In fact, these towns have the oldest pipes in the US and could pose the greatest threat to your health!
The Eastern US is full of factories that use a whole host of chemicals. The East Coast specializes in making automobiles, textiles, aerospace parts, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The chemicals used in the factories number into the thousands and include BPA, BPB, and PFAs, which are directly connected to a deterioration of human health and our ecosystem.
Because of the extreme toxicity of these factory chemicals, you should be worried about even a minute amount ending up in your drinking water. Here are the areas in the Eastern US with the most factories:
1) The Rustbelt: Known for steel production, automobile manufacturing, and heavy industry.
2) The Northeast corridor: Stretches from Washington DC to Boston. Includes Baltimore and Washington, DC, with hundreds of factories and a long history of industrial activity. Some of the most contaminated drinking water in the US!
3) The Great Lakes region: They are proud of their manufacturing heritage in cities like Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Buffalo, but their drinking water is heavily polluted.
4) Mid-Atlantic states: In states such as Maryland and Virginia, there is a mix of industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and chemical factories. The metropolitan areas are particularly susceptible to chemicals from these industries.
Many states, like Iowa and Nebraska, are flat and perfect for raising animals. Except where there are farms, there are nitrates from fertilizers and animal waste. These nitrates enter the drinking water and cause significant health problems, especially for infants and pregnant women.
Eastern Shore, Maryland, and Virginia: The Eastern Shore region, spanning Maryland and Virginia, is known for its poultry production. The runoff from poultry farms, including manure and associated contaminants, can pose challenges to water quality in the area.
Des Moines, Iowa, is known for its issues with nitrate contamination in its drinking water sources. Nitrate pollution primarily stems from agricultural activities in the surrounding areas, particularly from excessive fertilizer use and the drainage of agricultural fields.
Here are the top 5 cities and towns in the Eastern US that are closest to farms and agriculture:
1) Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Lancaster County in Pennsylvania is known for its rich agricultural heritage and is often referred to as “Amish Country.” It is famous for its picturesque farmlands, dairy farms, and traditional Amish farming practices.
2) Burlington, Vermont: Burlington, situated in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, is surrounded by farmland and enjoys a strong connection to agriculture. The region is known for its dairy farms, apple orchards, and small-scale organic farming.
3) Ithaca, New York: Ithaca is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, known for its vineyards, wineries, and agricultural production. The area is home to a variety of farms, including fruit farms, vegetable farms, and dairy farms.
4) Asheville, North Carolina: Asheville is surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and is located in the western part of North Carolina. The region has a diverse agricultural scene, including small-scale family farms producing fruits, vegetables, livestock, and artisanal products.
5) Portland, Maine: Portland is the largest city in Maine, and while it is more urbanized, it is still in close proximity to agricultural areas. Maine is known for its blueberry farms, potato farms, and a wide range of other agricultural activities.
Public water systems are well aware of drinking water contamination from various sources. To combat these contaminants, they often add more contaminants! For example, they use chlorine and other chlorination byproducts to kill bacteria and viruses from leaks in old water pipes. The problem is when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water, it forms disinfection byproducts such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, which have been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancers!
Besides chlorination products, these public water systems also use chromium-6 and other harsh chemicals, which have also been linked to cancer!
The Eastern US has the oldest pipes and the highest concentration of factories and farmlands. Therefore, the public water systems add a higher concentration of these disinfectants than in other parts of the US. This makes Eastern US public water systems another threat to the quality of your drinking water!
Like on the West Coast, emerging contaminants like pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products are an increasing problem. People are flushing medications and even hormones down the toilet, ending up in drinking water. Even though these contaminants are still at low concentrations, they are increasing, especially in cities like Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City.
