TAP WATER: Is it really meant for us to drink?

By: Ava, Stella, Ella, Alex, and Owen

What does the Article on access to clean water say in

the UN Convention on human rights?
In the UN Convention of Human Rights it says that all individual have the right
to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including
adequate food, clothing, housing, water and sanitation.

Do you think your community is ensured access to clean

water?
My communitys water is not clear if its
safe or not because recently there have been
traces of lead in Tacoma. Seattle is close to
Tacoma and that's where we live. It has been
said that there is no lead problems but there is
still some people that are worried about their
health. And some people claim that there still
is indefinitely lead in the water.

Do you think your community is ensured access to clean

water? CON...
The lead supposedly is on the pipes and gets into the water when the water goes
through the the pipes. Other than the lead problem our water has a reputation
for being good clean filtered water.

Where does tap water come from in your area?

70%of Seattles tap water comes from the Cedar River watershed and 30%
comes from the Tolt River watershed. Less than 1% of our tap water comes from
wells in case something goes wrong with the watersheds.

How can you understand that tap

water is not safe to drink?

Cloudy, uncolored water: usually caused by little air bubbles, but be cautious
and don't drink if water is cloudy.
Foaming/cloudy water: usually caused by detergent being splashed up into the
faucet, rinse out the faucet before consuming.
Earthy or musty taste/odor: algae blooms in the in-town storage may result in
earthy or musty tasting water.

Who can you object to in your region in case you find

something wrong about the tap water supplied to your
home?

US Environmental Protection Agency: it oversees the quality of water is the

United States.
Seattle Public Utilities: The SPU helps monitor the water going from the
Cedar and Tolt River to our taps in Seattle

Can tap water pose threat to our health?

Lead can get into the tap water because it goes through service pipes that contain lead
corrode. Natural occurrences of contamination are bacteria, viruses and parasites
that can be found in the water. Also, radioactive elements such as uranium can be
found too.
Also, nitrates from fertilizers and heavy metals from rocks and
soils. High levels of fluoride also occur naturally in some areas.
Seattle water comes from Cedar and Tolt rivers and surrounding
forests help keep good water quality. And Seattle Public Utilities
analyzes over 20,000 microbiological samples each
year to make sure the tap water is of good quality.

What should water be tested for? Who is responsible

for water treatment services in your area?
Water mainly should be tested for:
-

lead
pesticides
bugs

Water should be tested for these things because it is very unhealthy (to drink, or
just in general). It should be the governments responsibility to provide
treatment because they make rules/laws and they know what is best for the
health of the community.

What policies/actions can you suggest in order to

protect the water sources and to get access to proper
sanitation of tap water? How can we monitor the
adequate work of tap water providers?
1)
2)
3)
4)

Dispose of chemicals properly

Recycle oils
Keep the use of fertilizers and pesticides to a minimum
Take proper care of your pipes and septic tank

Picture Bibliography
-

https://en.m.wikipedia.
org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency
http://www.cakex.org/directory/organizations/seattle-public-utilities
http://www.businessinsider.com/what-ingredients-are-in-tap-water-20161
http://deohs.washington.edu/environmental-health-news/keeping-seattlesdrinking-water-safe
www.iRocks.com
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/lead.html
www.right2water.edu
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/index.shtml

Information Bibliography
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/no-lead-problems-in-seattle-waterofficials-say-after-testing/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Public_Utilities
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/index.shtml
http://www.un.
org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/human_right_to_water_and_sanitation_milestones.
pdf