Water / Public News Service

In January 2014, approximately 10,000 gallons of chemicals used to process coal spilled from a storage tank into the Elk River in West Virginia, a water source which serving 300-thousand people in the Charleston area.(Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Bill aims to weaken WV coal and gas industry chemical tank regulations

Lawmakers in the West Virginia Senate have passed a bill to remove mandated inspections for chemical storage tanks in the oil, coal and gas …

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have recently come under scrutiny for not doing more to enforce factory farm manure discharge permits. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration In …

Agriculture trade groups want to see a rollback of federal environmental regulations on the meatpacking industry, along with fewer worker protections and food safety measures. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Aquaculture, particularly aquaponics, can improve food security by providing locally grown, fresh and nutritious food in food deserts. (Adobe Stock/B.Rath Photography)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Expanding NM's aquaculture-based fish farming could improve food security

New Mexico may never be a leader in aquaculture but some fish farmers are finding success in the arid state. Rossana Sallenave, professor and …

PVC pipes are commonly joined by elastomeric sealing connections or solvent cement. These solvent cements can expose workers to hazardous chemicals such as tetrahydrofuran, a carcinogen. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Fixing one problem, creating another? Ohio's lead pipe replacements

Ohioans are seeing changes in their water infrastructure as cities work to replace lead service lines, a requirement under federal regulations…

The Trump administration is working to lower air-quality standards, which could allow easier permitting for the oil and gas industry. (Travelview/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Local leaders in California are slamming the Trump administration's moves to gut dozens of environmental policies on climate change and pollution in l…

Y-12 employs 5,000 people, whose objectives include processing highly enriched uranium for the nation's nuclear stockpile. (Enzo/AdobeStock)

Uncertain future of Y-12 complex under Trump administration threatens jobs, economy

A Knoxville environmental group is raising concerns over federal budget cuts and their effects on jobs at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ri…

From data centers to clean-energy projects to factory farms, rural communities are being asked to shoulder a number of key projects factoring into how society functions, potentially leading to a major dynamic shift in how local residents organize their response. (Adobe Stock)

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

The future of a big carbon capture project in the Midwest was thrown off balance after a new South Dakota law was adopted. Rural property owners made …

Conservation experts would like to see more farms use drip or sprinkler systems, which are more efficient than flooding for irrigation. (Deyan Georgiev/Adobe Stock)

Agriculture, especially cattle feed, uses most of Earth’s freshwater

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collab…

Polluted, acidic water leaving KD #1 Surface Mine on Lens Creek near Marmet. (Kanawha Forest Coalition)

WV officials expected to let coal company evade water-pollution cleanup

Watchdog groups said the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection seems poised to allow coal company Keystone West Virginia to walk away f…

MS groups fight to curb corporate control in agriculture

Advocates for family farms in Mississippi are sounding alarms about the increasing dominance of large corporations in the state's agricultural sector…

Lake algae blooms can release toxins posing serious risks to humans, pets and wildlife, potentially causing illness or even death. (Pete Niesen Photo/Adobe Stock)

MI scientist: Humans, not climate change, to blame for toxic lakes

Each summer, more lake beaches shut down as toxic algae blooms spread across the water and while climate change is often blamed, new research …

No data has been made available yet to show the effect of the legislation passed in 2024 to regulate industrial sludge in Maryland. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates await impacts of industrial sludge law a year later

Environmental advocates are waiting for results from legislation passed last year, regulating the use of industrial sludge from flowing into …

Danny Akenson of the group Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin said the corporate consolidation from concentrated animal feeding operations has caused the shuttering of many small farms across the state. Dairy farms in Wisconsin with fewer than 100 cattle have decreased by more than 50% since 2012. (Adobe Stock)

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit to expand Ridge Breeze Dairy in Salem despite hundreds of local objections…

A concentrated animal feeding operation is a facility where animals have been, are or will be stabled or confined and fed, or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe Stock)

Group warns livestock manure making MI Great Lakes not so great

A new analysis revealed a staggering amount of livestock waste is flowing through Michigan's waterways each year, equivalent to the sewage of 81 …

Line 5 transports crude oil and natural gas liquids from Canada through Michigan to refineries in the U.S. and Canada. (SNEHIT PHOTO/Adobe Stock)

MI environmentalists alarmed about potential Line 5 emergency permit status

Michigan environmental groups are pushing back as Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel faces "emergency" review, potentially bypassing full scrutiny and public …

A McDowell County, West Virginia resident holds up a water bottled filled with brown tap water at a webinar hosted by ReImagine Appalachia. (Facebook/ReImagine Appalachia)<br />

Southern WV residents demand lawmakers address ongoing water crisis

Many residents of southern West Virginia say the water flowing out of their taps is a brown or orange color and most continue to rely heavily on bottl…

Concentrated animal feeding operations are major polluters of the air and water, yet less than a third in Illinois have National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, which are required when discharging livestock waste. (Adobe Stock)

IL CAFOs on rise as industry remains underregulated

Illinois is known for having some of the weakest environmental laws for concentrated animal feeding operations, with a lack of oversight and public …

Energy site NationalGrid.com reported storage sites for CO2 emissions should be 0.62 miles or more underground. (Adobe Stock)

OH residents watching bills proposing carbon-dioxide storage under homes

A bill which could approve the injection of large amounts of carbon emissions or industrial carbon dioxide into underground Ohio wells is raising conc…

Paraquat is a dangerous pesticide, currently banned in more than 70 countries but <br />still approved for use in the United States. (Marritch/Adobe Stock)

Feds petitioned to eliminate 'extraordinarily toxic' pesticides in food

One organization is taking the Trump administration's promises to "Make America Healthy Again" seriously. The Center for Biological Diversity is …

Around 65% of Kentucky's 79,752 miles of streams and rivers are ephemeral or intermittent, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. (Adobe Stock)

Critics: Senate bill could undermine Kentucky water quality

Some Kentucky lawmakers want to weaken protections for waterways many residents depend on for drinking water. Senate Bill 89, that would narrow the …

Rural AZ is drying up. Will lawmakers do something about it?

A piece of Arizona legislation, with bipartisan backing, is aiming to bring better oversight and protections of groundwater, across five basins in …

The Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition is made up of more than 25 organizations concerned about the harmful impacts of factory farms on Oregon family farms, environment, public health and animal welfare. (barmalini/Adobe Stock)

OR clean water advocates call for moratorium on factory farms

Oregon lawmakers are considering a moratorium on permits for new or expanding factory farms in some of the state's most polluted areas. A coalition …

About 12,000 acres of former mining sites in Kentucky could be reclaimed to reduce environmental and safety hazards, according to a 2024 report by the Appalachian Citizen's Law Center. (Adobe Stock)

Abandoned Mine Land program frozen as Appalachia faces severe flooding

The Trump administration has frozen funds used for abandoned mine land cleanup. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress invested around $…

Life expectancy for New Mexicans is 73 years, compared to almost 80 years for top-rated Hawaii. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

NM lawmakers weigh bills to protect air, land, water for future generations

Recognizing climate change is not isolated to certain parts of New Mexico, legislators are considering bills to help protect the state's air…

An approved winter manure-spreading practice requires Pennsylvania farmers to maintain a 100-foot setback from water sources, including streams, lakes, ponds, sinkholes, wells and above-ground drainage inlets. (Andov/Adobe Stock)

PA farmers urged to minimize manure input on fields during winter

Winter in Pennsylvania brings farmers not only snow and freezing temperatures but stricter manure-spreading regulations to minimize water pollution…

When biosolids containing PFAS are used as fertilizer, the chemicals leach into soil and groundwater, and are then taken up by plants, which are then consumed by humans, livestock and wildlife. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

North TX county declares disaster due to PFAS contamination

A north Texas commissioners' court has declared a county disaster because of PFAS contamination. Johnson County Commissioners are asking Gov…

Through a legislative proposal, South Dakota agriculture officials are trying to generate an extra $350,000 in permitting fees, so they can maintain oversight of concentrated animal feeding operations. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakota poised to boost fees that help regulate CAFOs

Rural communities in the U.S. remain at the center of debate about the growing presence of large livestock operations. South Dakota lawmakers are …

New Mexico's Aztec Ruins National Monument, established in 1923, consists of preserved structures constructed by the Pueblo Indians. (nps.gov)

NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump

Areas surrounding New Mexico's Aztec Ruins National Monument, and other monuments, are at risk of losing federal protections from the "Unleashing …

The Environmental Protection Agency said excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause an overgrowth of algae in lakes and if algal blooms occur, the toxins they produce can be harmful to human health and aquatic life. (Adobe Stock)

15 years in the making, MN could set nitrate standards for lakes

Minnesota is giving its water quality standards a fresh look. With public input in their hands, officials are under pressure to add language about …

A map shows West Virginia's abandoned oil and gas wells. (Ohio River Valley Institute)

WV's abandoned wells could pose risks for planned carbon storage

West Virginia has thousands of unplugged and improperly plugged oil and gas wells that could leak and contaminate groundwater, potentially harming …

NV Conservation League sets 2025 policy priorities

The Nevada Conservation League says its policy priorities for this year's legislative session reflect what Nevadans value - protecting the state's uni…

The Shapiro administration announced earlier this year an investment of more than $288 million for 39 water infrastructure projects in 24 counties through PENNVEST. (Igor/Adobe Stock)

PA replacing lead water pipes to ensure safe drinking water

Pennsylvania is working to eliminate lead pipes under the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which require most …

Iowa farmers use at least 54 million pounds of pesticides annually, among the highest amounts in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Organizers rally against cancer 'Gag Act'

Groups working to protect Iowa's air and water rally at the State Capitol this afternoon, against a bill they say would protect pesticide companies …

Farmed seafood products make up half of the world's seafood supply, but U.S. production lags, leading to a $16.9 billion seafood deficit in the United States in 2020, according to NOAA. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Industrial aquaculture poised to grow under second Trump administration

The Trump administration aims to increase domestic seafood production through industrial aquaculture but opponents said it puts Maine's coastal commun…

Large cattle operations on factory farms are one of the largest producers of methane emissions, one of the primary components of greenhouse gases driving climate change. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Scientists debate best farming methods to reduce effects of climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Lake Erie is exposed to the greatest stress from urbanization, industrialization and agriculture, and leads in the amount of liquid waste from sewage treatment and plants. (Adobe Stock)

OH group wants federal accountability for Lake Erie phosphorus reduction

Legal action continues in efforts at cleaning up a portion of Ohio's waterways. The Ohio EPA has been added as a defendant, along with the U.S. EPA…

The six largest water systems in Tennessee collectively manage more thanb 874,000 service lines, accounting for more than 30% of the state's more than 2.8 million drinking-water lines. (Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee accelerating efforts to replace lead pipes

Tennessee is working to eliminate lead pipes under the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which require most lead pipes to be removed within …

The Lower Umatilla Groundwater Management Area was designated in 1990, after nitrate contamination was identified in northern Umatilla and Morrow counties. (Miljan �ivković/Adobe Stock)

Report: Nitrate levels continue to rise in eastern OR groundwater

A new study by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found nitrate levels have continued to rise across the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater …

In Muskegon's 2023 water report, lead levels in 90% of the tests were at or below 5 parts per billion (ppb), which is far below the action level of 15 ppb. (Dusan Petkovic/Adobe Stock)

Federal funds key to keeping MI cities' water lead free

Federal funds have ensured Muskegon's water is safe to drink, but city leaders there and in other Michigan communities are concerned the funds may …

Replacing all the lead water pipes in New York State will cost an estimated $2.5 billion. (Adobe Stock)

NY works to replace lead water pipes, despite funding challenges

Despite sharp national political divisions, states including New York are working to eliminate lead in drinking water pipes. The current challenge …

A recent study found nearly 70% of children under age six in Chicago may be exposed to lead contaminated tap water. (Adobe Stock)

IL works toward lead-free water pipes

Illinois has been working to replace all its lead water pipes but the task is enormous, as it is estimated the state has the most lead service lines …

A University of Connecticut study found a growing concentration of certain neonicotinoid pesticides along the state's coast, suggesting potential accumulation and transport of the insecticides. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Harmful pesticides found in CT rivers, groundwater

A new report showed a growing problem of harmful pesticides in Connecticut waterways. The University of Connecticut study analyzed 20 years of data…

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates Indiana has more than 265,000 customer-owned lead water service lines currently in use. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana steps up to get the lead out

Indiana is working to eliminate lead pipes under the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which require most lead …

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Student Leadership Council members gather around an Eastern hellbender at the Pittsburgh Zoo in 2018. The students spearheaded the effort to designate the hellbender as Pennsylvania's official state amphibian. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Eastern hellbender, PA's state amphibian, faces endangered-species protection

The Eastern hellbender, North America's largest salamander and Pennsylvania's state amphibian, is one step closer to receiving federal protection…

Iowa is home to more than 25 million pigs, making it the largest pork producer in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Watchdog group asks lawmakers for more Iowa CAFO oversight

Environmental advocates in Iowa want state lawmakers to tighten regulations on large livestock feeding facilities, which they say will help protect …

Infrastructure experts say there is a $1 trillion dollar need for drinking water, stormwater and wastewater improvements over the next 20 years in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

MN cities dig deep for safe drinking water, but can they meet goals?

An Environmental Protection Agency rule, finalized near the end of the Biden administration, calls on states and cities to replace all lead pipes in …

We Don't Waste serves more than 100 hunger relief organizations across Denver, and has so far saved 220 million servings of food. (Galatas)

Denver nonprofit tackles food waste, hunger

By Taylor Haelterman for Triple Pundit.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-P…

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Water

Bill aims to weaken WV coal and gas industry chemical tank regulations

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

Expanding NM's aquaculture-based fish farming could improve food security

Fixing one problem, creating another? Ohio's lead pipe replacements

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Uncertain future of Y-12 complex under Trump administration threatens jobs, economy

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

Agriculture, especially cattle feed, uses most of Earth’s freshwater

WV officials expected to let coal company evade water-pollution cleanup

MS groups fight to curb corporate control in agriculture

MI scientist: Humans, not climate change, to blame for toxic lakes

Advocates await impacts of industrial sludge law a year later

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

Group warns livestock manure making MI Great Lakes not so great

MI environmentalists alarmed about potential Line 5 emergency permit status

Southern WV residents demand lawmakers address ongoing water crisis

IL CAFOs on rise as industry remains underregulated

OH residents watching bills proposing carbon-dioxide storage under homes

Feds petitioned to eliminate 'extraordinarily toxic' pesticides in food

Critics: Senate bill could undermine Kentucky water quality

Rural AZ is drying up. Will lawmakers do something about it?

OR clean water advocates call for moratorium on factory farms

Abandoned Mine Land program frozen as Appalachia faces severe flooding

NM lawmakers weigh bills to protect air, land, water for future generations

PA farmers urged to minimize manure input on fields during winter

North TX county declares disaster due to PFAS contamination

South Dakota poised to boost fees that help regulate CAFOs

NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump

15 years in the making, MN could set nitrate standards for lakes

WV's abandoned wells could pose risks for planned carbon storage

NV Conservation League sets 2025 policy priorities

PA replacing lead water pipes to ensure safe drinking water

Organizers rally against cancer 'Gag Act'

Industrial aquaculture poised to grow under second Trump administration

Scientists debate best farming methods to reduce effects of climate change

OH group wants federal accountability for Lake Erie phosphorus reduction

Tennessee accelerating efforts to replace lead pipes

Report: Nitrate levels continue to rise in eastern OR groundwater

Federal funds key to keeping MI cities' water lead free

NY works to replace lead water pipes, despite funding challenges

IL works toward lead-free water pipes

Report: Harmful pesticides found in CT rivers, groundwater

Indiana steps up to get the lead out

Eastern hellbender, PA's state amphibian, faces endangered-species protection

Watchdog group asks lawmakers for more Iowa CAFO oversight

MN cities dig deep for safe drinking water, but can they meet goals?

Denver nonprofit tackles food waste, hunger