safe water

Quick-growing blooms of bacteria and algae have long been a hazard in lakes and rivers, because of the toxins they produce. Fueled in part by agricultural runoff, these blooms are also threatening public water systems, making water temporarily unusable, and forcing some cities and towns to take costly preventive measures.

Settlement payments from chemical companies are helping cities pay for expensive PFAS removal technology. But local leaders say the dollars often fall short of covering the full costs to clean up drinking water.

If you're thirsty for knowledge, it's time to drink up: public water supplies are federally required to make water quality reports available by the end of June.

The Trump administration wants to rewrite the definition for what counts as protected ‘waters of the United States.' The rule has caused frustration among farmers, but environmental attorneys worry a change could lead to more pollution.

Gov. Greg Abbott has made water a priority for this legislative session. Lawmakers will debate whether to invest more into new water supplies or repairing old, leaking pipes around Texas.

The survey, by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, found one-third of Kansans think the state and local government are not doing enough to conserve water.

The EPA set its first-ever drinking water limits for five types of PFAS chemicals, and nearly 50 of Texas public water systems have reported exceeding the new limits for at least one. North Texas cities include Arlington, Grapevine, Fort Worth and Dallas.

Native American communities often lack the resources to upgrade drinking and wastewater infrastructure. The Santee Sioux Nation in Nebraska is an extreme example — living without safe drinking water for four years.

Ever wondered whether your well water would win a blue ribbon? The OSU Extension isn’t handing out prizes, but it is providing free well water testing at county fairs across the state.

Four towns and one county have received funding to upgrade their water and wastewater infrastructure, an urgent need across much of the rural U.S.