What would you do if you turned on your tap for a glass of water, only to find it was murky and brown? Even worse, what if contaminants were already in your water and you couldn’t see them?
Water is vital to human life, but growing concerns over water quality have arisen in recent years. With pesticide runoff and lead contamination damaging water supplies, people have begun to worry what exactly they are putting into their bodies.
The movement for clean water and environmental responsibility has increased greatly since the Flint, Michigan water crisis started.  Headlines of lead-contaminated water and the ailments it has induced have permeated national news since 2014 as the city continues its fight to obtain clean water. This April 20, 2016 NPR synopsis of the crisis details how a 2014 switch in the city’s water supply caused lead contamination of drinking water and corroded the city’s pipes, which ultimately led to health problems for Flint residents. The crisis in Flint has contributed to a greater awareness of water quality and public calls for reform in environmental policy. This continuously-updated CNN timeline includes information about a myriad of lawsuits brought against the city of Flint, Michigan and the outcries of organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, for immediate action. 
Residents of New Jersey may be able to sympathize with those of Flint, as issues of water quality hit home; in fact, the state’s water supply has had a history of contamination and pollution. As revealed in a March 9, 2016 NJ.com article, Newark public school officials decided to shut water fountains off in nearly half of the city’s schools after tests revealed the water was high in lead.  All affected fountains will be restored to full capacity by next year, school officials have said.
This March 30 NJ.com article explains the testing process used to evaluate the water quality in the affected schools and includes information on the consequences of the contamination. In response to the contamination reports, New Jersey passed a law requiring schools to test their water for lead at least once every six years.
The article also breaks down the process the schools used to address the problem, including replacing pipes, installing water filters and conducting additional water tests. This summary of the Newark water contamination issue has proved valuable by making the important but potentially confusing information digestible.
Policies governing water are dictated by local, state and federal governments. A March 15 New York Times article describes President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed cuts raise concerns about environmental maintenance, water quality, wildlife preservation and pollution control. As worries about climate change heighten, the EPA’s work becomes increasingly valuable. Cuts to the agency could prove detrimental for the nation.
NJ.com writer S.P. Sullivan describes in a March 16 article the disastrous effects that cutting EPA funds could bring. Sullivan weaves his story together through the discussion of industry, history and politics- both state and national. Sullivan also uses statistics to back up his article, citing that the EPA would experience a budget cut by one-third and 20 percent of its workforce would be laid off as a result of Trump’s cuts.
S.P. Sullivan establishes the need for EPA funding on both national and state levels. Without such funding, the Passaic River could not be cleansed of toxic sludge that is polluting its waters. A proposed cleanup of the Hackensack River could be halted as well. Nationally, contamination hotspots could become worse without the necessary cleanups proposed by the EPA.

According to a recent Gallup poll released on March 31, Americans’ worries about water pollution are the highest they have been since 2001.  This article demonstrates how concerns over water quality have become more prevalent since 1989, when Gallup first conducted polls on the issue. Using historical data and comparing it to the live data of today, it can be seen that concerns over water quality have risen immensely. Gallup also references the issues of air pollution, deforestation and extinction of species. By comparing rates of each over the years, Gallup effectively raises concern over other environmental issues that can intersect with the issue of water quality. This comparative analysis of past and present data conveys the need for environmental reform on multiple levels.

The Flint Water Crisis, issues of lead contamination, proposed cuts in EPA funding, fracking and the construction of pipelines have contributed to worries over water. National news has been filled with information about the current environmental and human rights crises in our nation and world. It makes sense that people are worrying now more than ever.  These issues are not going away any time soon, and they continue to plague society on levels both large and small. Education and activism can help combat these issues, hopefully bringing about a resolution and greater social consciousness.

Before you turn your faucets on, stop and ask yourself: what is in the water?