Water supply contamination Protection

The implementation of sanitary sewer systems and treated water supplies has protected the public from many kinds of biohazards. State and local governments have plumbing codes, codes for sanitary sewer systems, and codes for water supply systems. In many locations, plumbing and sanitary lines require inspection when initially installed or modified. Strict code enforcement prevents potential disease transfer. Careful separation of potable water from untreated water supplies and sewer lines prevents cross-contamination or back flow to the potable water. 

The rate of water contamination from many point sources has decreased markedly since the passing of the Clean Water Act of 1972 and its subsequent amendments. Prior to 1972, the user of a water supply, such as a municipality, was responsible for protecting the supply. Because it is far more efficient to control water pollutants before they are released into the environment, the Clean Water Act shifted the burden of protecting a water supply to anyone discharging wastes into the water, such as a local industry. 

Are foods better if they are organic Of course they are, but not primarily because of nutrition. Their true value comes from what they do for farm workers in lower pesticide exposure, for soils in enrichment and conservation, for water supplies in less fertilizer runoff, for animals in protection against microbial diseases and mad cowdisease, for fish in protection against contamination with organic hydrocarbons, and for other such environmental factors. 

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