The Next Water Quality Crisis

The great Bjorn Lomborg has argued cogently that feckless spending to address illusory global warming problems will divert funding and resources from real problems. Here's a big one.

New Drinking Water Crisis Dwarfs Flint Tragedy
Steve Gruber, RealClearPolitics

. . . The chemical culprits are commonly referred to as PFAS, PFOA and PFCs; the scientific names are long and nearly impossible to pronounce, but their threat to people and animals cannot be overstated, according to research conducted by The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and others.

Bob Delaney has worked in the Michigan DEQ for more than three decades. In 2011 he set out, along with Richard DeGrandchamp, a University of Michigan-educated toxicologist from the University of Colorado-Denver, to evaluate the health problems associated with PFCs and its many industrial cousins on the grounds of the defunct Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Mich. What they discovered was evidence of an environmental catastrophe that will dwarf just about any other. . . .

This could be the most pervasive and destructive human health crisis in American history. What’s worse, the United States government and huge multinational corporations such as 3M and DuPont knew of these dangers long ago, as the New York Times reported. . . .

Remediation will take billions and possibly trillions of dollars. DuPont has found itself on the hook for billions of dollars to settle thousands of claims from West Virginia, but most companies that manufactured or distributed PFCs are looking the other way and hoping they can avoid a similar financial catastrophe. . . .

There is a ray of hope, however.
According to senior members of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration, the government went into crisis mode the day following Delaney’s radio appearance last October. Snyder had previously been stung politically by the Flint water crisis and was not willing to allow a similar situation to unfold. He worked quickly, freed up resources and let it be known that his administration was ready to help with whatever was needed to begin addressing the contamination crisis. The state is also moving forward on building new labs to expedite the testing of water samples from Michigan without having to ship them elsewhere for evaluation.
So far Michigan has identified at least 200 sites around the state where PFCs have impacted either groundwater or surface water. The monumental task of cleaning up is just getting started.
The question, however, is: Will it come too late for the Water Wonderland? The picturesque Huron River, once touted as a premier fly-fishing destination, has recently been determined to be contaminated with PFCs too and the fish there are unsafe to eat. The entire Huron Watershed, encompassing five counties, now has signs warning anglers about their catch and the health dangers fish from those waters could pose.
In the meantime, both Delaney and DeGrandchamp strongly suggest residents have their water tested -- or skip the middleman and go straight to buying a high-quality water purification system that eliminates PFCs. They both admit that even if one’s water is shown to be safe today, that is no guarantee it will be safe tomorrow.
Bottoms up.

Jack Hays said:

The great Bjorn Lomborg has argued cogently that feckless spending to address illusory global warming problems will divert funding and resources from real problems. Here's a big one.

New Drinking Water Crisis Dwarfs Flint Tragedy
Steve Gruber, RealClearPolitics

. . . The chemical culprits are commonly referred to as PFAS, PFOA and PFCs; the scientific names are long and nearly impossible to pronounce, but their threat to people and animals cannot be overstated, according to research conducted by The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and others.

Bob Delaney has worked in the Michigan DEQ for more than three decades. In 2011 he set out, along with Richard DeGrandchamp, a University of Michigan-educated toxicologist from the University of Colorado-Denver, to evaluate the health problems associated with PFCs and its many industrial cousins on the grounds of the defunct Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Mich. What they discovered was evidence of an environmental catastrophe that will dwarf just about any other. . . .

This could be the most pervasive and destructive human health crisis in American history. What’s worse, the United States government and huge multinational corporations such as 3M and DuPont knew of these dangers long ago, as the New York Times reported. . . .

Remediation will take billions and possibly trillions of dollars. DuPont has found itself on the hook for billions of dollars to settle thousands of claims from West Virginia, but most companies that manufactured or distributed PFCs are looking the other way and hoping they can avoid a similar financial catastrophe. . . .

There is a ray of hope, however.
According to senior members of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration, the government went into crisis mode the day following Delaney’s radio appearance last October. Snyder had previously been stung politically by the Flint water crisis and was not willing to allow a similar situation to unfold. He worked quickly, freed up resources and let it be known that his administration was ready to help with whatever was needed to begin addressing the contamination crisis. The state is also moving forward on building new labs to expedite the testing of water samples from Michigan without having to ship them elsewhere for evaluation.
So far Michigan has identified at least 200 sites around the state where PFCs have impacted either groundwater or surface water. The monumental task of cleaning up is just getting started.
The question, however, is: Will it come too late for the Water Wonderland? The picturesque Huron River, once touted as a premier fly-fishing destination, has recently been determined to be contaminated with PFCs too and the fish there are unsafe to eat. The entire Huron Watershed, encompassing five counties, now has signs warning anglers about their catch and the health dangers fish from those waters could pose.
In the meantime, both Delaney and DeGrandchamp strongly suggest residents have their water tested -- or skip the middleman and go straight to buying a high-quality water purification system that eliminates PFCs. They both admit that even if one’s water is shown to be safe today, that is no guarantee it will be safe tomorrow.
Bottoms up.

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A lot of parallels with oil companies and climate change there.

Surface Detail said:

A lot of parallels with oil companies and climate change there.

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Typically nonsensical comment.

Jack Hays said:

Typically nonsensical comment.

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Typically trite response.

As Western Civilization continues to collapse and as the health of the planet continues in decline the problems overwhelm any hope of dealing with all of them. The very expensive ones will fall off the list.

Likely this one unless some new cheap process is invented.

Hawkeye10 said:

As Western Civilization continues to collapse and as the health of the planet continues in decline the problems overwhelm any hope of dealing with all of them. The very expensive ones will fall off the list.

Likely this one unless some new cheap process is invented.

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Greetings, Hawkeye10. :2wave:

I believe we will see huge de-salinizaton plants built before much of anything else is tackled, because death is likely if humans and animals haven't had water to drink for more than 3 to 5 days. We are fortunate to live on a planet with water that covers 3/4 of the earth's surface, but the oceans are salty which means we will have to desalinize them first. Then there's the problem with plant life - gardens die too if they don't get water. Lots of problems to solve..... :yes:

polgara said:

Greetings, Hawkeye10. :2wave:

I believe we will see huge de-salinizaton plants built before much of anything else is tackled, because death is likely if humans and animals haven't had water to drink for more than 3 to 5 days. We are fortunate to live on a planet with water that covers 3/4 of the earth's surface, but the oceans are salty which means we will have to desalinize them first. Then there's the problem with plant life - gardens die too if they don't get water. Lots of problems to solve..... :yes:

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Are we going to figure out a way to do it with less energy because that seems to be the problem....

At some point if humans make it far enough which is to say we dont destroy and thus end human existence I spect that we will not drink any water that has not been through a purification system. But that will be a long time coming, many many other problems are going to take priority over trace toxins in our water. We are already swamped with problems and possess a very poor ability to solve problems generally, society is way too much of a mess to get things done generally.....and the days of living off of debt are about over.

The crash is rapidly approaching.

Gotta be realistic.