The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a $20,170,000 award to the state of Maryland to complete numerous drinking water improvement projects to help Maryland residents. The state is matching the award with $4M in additional funds to provide funding to communities participating in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program.
What is the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund?
Maryland’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program offers low-interest loans to communities who want to complete drinking water improvement initiatives. All of the funding is given to communities struggling to meet or maintain federal primary drinking water standards as outlined in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for water improvement projects. The program is run by the state and the EPA in response to their surveys of national infrastructure. Currently, $472.6 billion is needed to maintain and improve drinking water infrastructure throughout the United States over the next two decades. Through replacing and repairing pipelines, treating water, rehabilitating storage reservoirs and other targeted projects, the EPA hopes to improve the quality of the water that all of us drink.
What Contaminants Can Be Found in Drinking Water?
The Safe Drinking Water Act sets strict guidelines for pollutant, chemical and compound levels in drinking water. While many states meet the guidelines, the data found in the EPA studies shows that many more states require assistance meeting the benchmarks and to fund water improvement projects. Some of the contaminants that can be found in drinking water include:
- Chlorine
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Copper
- Lead
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Selenium
- Benzene
- PFAS
At high levels or after long-term exposure, these can lead to a host of health problems, including:
- Stomach discomfort
- Kidney damage
- Dermatitis
- Liver damage
- Delays in physical or mental development in babies and children
- High blood pressure
- Blue Baby Syndrome
- Shortness of breath
- Circulatory problems
- Anemia
- Hormonal disruption
- Lower fertility in women
It’s important to know that, while the chemicals and contaminants listed above might exist at permissible levels in state drinking water, some of them can be exacerbated by your home’s pipes. Additionally, what is permissible by the EPA at low levels might still be hazardous. Why strive for “good enough” when you could instead focus on clean, filtered water throughout your home?
The Dangers and Prevalence of PFAS on the East Coast
Dubbed “forever chemicals,” PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are the main ingredient in AFFF fire-fighting foam. These chemicals can pose a serious danger to us when they contaminate the drinking water, with issues including cancer, liver disease, child development issues, and even asthma. And even though the United States government outlawed the use of PFAS in fire-fighting foam, it seems the damage has already been done. The presence of PFAS have been found in a creek in Gambrills, Maryland, two sites in the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, and a south branch of the Potomac River in West Virginia. There is concern that the use of AFF fire-fighting foams on army bases and airports may have led to contamination of the six-state Chesapeake Bay watershed.
With help from the EPA, Maryland’s water improvement projects will be able to combat the harmful PFAS that are prevalent in drinking water, ensuring everyone in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed area has access to clean water.
Keeping Your Home Safe During Water Improvement Projects
If you don’t want to wait for drinking water around you to improve over the course of the months and years to come, the best solution is a whole house water filter. Water filtered using our Hague WaterMax® BEQ System is ideal for homes in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, as it effortlessly filters city water for a clean taste and healthier water.
The Hague WaterMax® BEQ System reduces sediment and dirt, eliminates hard water and its negative effects, removes chlorine taste, and prevents you from needing to buy bottled water. Beyond the wellness benefits you can experience, the Hague WaterMax® BEQ System has savings and home maintenance benefits. Depending on your water quality, you may use less soap for cleaning, save on pipe and plumbing maintenance, experience better water flow, and could save up to 30% on your plumbing maintenance and hot water costs.
Hague Quality Water of Maryland Can Help with Your Water Improvement Projects
If you are ready to improve your water quality and health without waiting for Maryland to get around to it, we are here to help with your water improvement projects. As a new offering and in addition to our free on-site water test for new customers, we are offering a contact-free water test kit for only $200. This kit is delivered directly to you so that you can take samples and mail them to a professional lab. You’ll receive the results directly and our team can work with you to determine the perfect solution for your situation. Whether you need the Hague WaterMax® BEQ System or a different water treatment solution, our team cares deeply about the health and safety of your family. To purchase your kit today, click here. For additional assistance, call Hague Quality Water of Maryland at (410) 757-2992.
