TOMORROW: KIRO 7 Investigates what’s in your tap water – KIRO 7 News Seattle

Report on Tap Water Safety and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Assessing Water Quality in the Context of Global Health and Sanitation Standards

An inquiry into the safety of municipal tap water highlights significant challenges related to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Analysis from environmental science experts indicates that current regulatory frameworks may be insufficient to protect public health fully, pointing to a gap between existing standards and the latest scientific understanding of contaminant risks.

Key Challenges in Achieving SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensuring universal access to safe and affordable drinking water is a primary target of SDG 6. However, several issues impede progress:

• Outdated Regulatory Standards: According to the Environmental Working Group, many regulations for water contaminants have not been updated to reflect current health science, potentially leaving the public exposed to risks that are now better understood.
• Unregulated Contaminants: A significant number of potentially harmful contaminants found in water sources are not subject to any federal regulation, creating a critical vulnerability in the public water supply system.
• Variable Risk Levels: The safety of tap water can differ based on the source and treatment methods, indicating an inequity in access to clean water, which contravenes the universal access principle of SDG 6.

Implications for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The quality of drinking water is directly linked to public health outcomes, a core component of SDG 3. The identified shortcomings in water safety have direct consequences:

• Public Health Risks: The presence of inadequately regulated contaminants in drinking water poses a direct threat to human health, undermining the goal of ensuring healthy lives for all.
• Need for Enhanced Protection: To advance SDG 3, it is imperative that water safety measures are strengthened. This includes both regulatory action and providing consumers with information to take protective measures.

Recommendations for Aligning with SDG Targets

To better align with the objectives of SDGs 3 and 6, the following actions are recommended:

1. Update federal and state water quality regulations to be consistent with the latest peer-reviewed health science.
2. Establish safety standards for currently unregulated contaminants known to pose a risk to human health.
3. Increase investment in water infrastructure and testing to ensure consistent and equitable water safety for all communities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This goal is directly addressed as the article’s central theme is the safety of tap water. The text questions the quality of drinking water (“How safe is yours?”) and discusses the presence of “contaminants,” which is a core concern of ensuring clean water for all.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article connects water quality to health outcomes. The concern that regulations are not “keeping up with the latest health science” implies that the contaminants in the water pose a risk to human health, which is a key aspect of SDG 3.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

  The article directly engages with the “safe” component of this target. By investigating what is in the tap water and questioning its safety, the article highlights the challenge of ensuring that the water provided to the public is free from harmful levels of contaminants.

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

  This target is relevant because the article focuses on the health risks associated with water contamination. The statement from the Environmental Working Group about regulated and unregulated “contaminants” points directly to the issue of hazardous substances in the water supply that can lead to illnesses.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator: Levels of regulated and unregulated contaminants in drinking water.

  The article implies that a key measure of water safety is the presence and concentration of contaminants. The quote, “there are quite a number of contaminants that aren’t regulated at all,” suggests that tracking both regulated and unregulated substances is a necessary indicator to assess the safety of the water supply (relevant to Target 6.1).

• Implied Indicator: Adequacy of water quality regulations against current health science.

  Progress towards reducing illnesses (Target 3.9) can be measured by how well water quality regulations protect public health. The article implies this is a key metric by quoting an expert who states that for many contaminants, regulations are “not at levels that are keeping up with the latest health science.” This suggests that the alignment of legal standards with scientific health recommendations is a critical indicator.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kiro7.com