The American Water Crisis: What Increasing Rate Of Boiling Water Advisories Imply

Here's one universal law no one can contend with: humans need water to live. This leads some to question why the world pays little attention to the growing water crisis, especially in America, a country that uses water more than others.

According to CNBC, Environment Protection Agency released data that only 9 of the 50 U.S. states have reported safe water supply with normal levels of lead content. In the last three years, states have reported unacceptable levels of lead in the water their residents consume everyday.

The most extreme recent water crisis is in Flint, Michigan that the world took notice of in 2014 when the state government's cost-cutting measures led to poisoned drinking water. In 2014, many boil water advisories were called because coliform bacteria was detected in Flint's water supply. Fast forward to 2016 and the water contamination in the area remains unresolved in the middle of legal battles and corruption issues (via CNN).

It's not only in Michigan where boil water advisories are issued by authorities. The Huffington Post used Google alerts and found out that there had been 142 boil water advisories in 27 states from Feb. 22 to March 22. What exactly is a boil water advisory and what is causing it?

According to American Water, a boil water advisory is either mandatory or precautionary. Nevertheless, both imply the same thing: water supply is contaminated and is not safe to drink without boiling it first.

Boil water advisories are often caused by water breaks because of weather, pipe material and their installation conditions. The age of the pipes is also seen as a factor (via The Huffington Post).

For The Huffington Post, the accumulation of boil water advisories all over America present a much bigger problem than just loss of profit for small enterprises, additional miscellaneous costs for the boiling water process, or repairment of pipes. It means that water infrastructure in the U.S. is seriously screwed; and the government must act upon it immediately to avoid the long-term effects on U.S. health care and consequently, the economy.

According to American Water Works Association, funding on improving the water system can amount to $1 trillion between 2016 and 2035. The problem is the money isn't enough but if the situation continues to prevail, the gap between projected cost and the available money will become wider (via Huffington Post).

Huffington Post presents the suggestion that state governments must increase water rates of residents to meet the discrepancy. It will add burden to consumers but the investment goes a long way in solving the American water crisis.  

What can you suggest to the government that they can do to address the American water crisis? Share your thoughts below in the comments section!