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World water: a woeful day

I suppose I could say, "Happy World Water Day!"  But the reason for such an international day, and the news around it, isn't all that swell. Indeed, environmental advocates are saying we're in the midst of a water crisis, never mind the abundant rain -- today and lots of days -- in the Philadelphia region.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined an honor roll of advocates and poobahs to convene a safe drinking water and sanitation event at the National Geographic Society.

According to a press release about the event, one in six people worldwide does not have access to safe drinking water and two in five people lack access to basic sanitation.  The tentacles of this lack are many; it affects the health of the population, child survival, gender equity, education, the environment, poverty and political security.

Meanwhile, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson  used the occasion of a speech before the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies to announce that the agency is developing a broad new set of strategies to strengthen public health protection when it comes to contaminants in drinking water.

EPA is also announcing a decision to revise the existing drinking water standards for four contaminants that can cause cancer -- the industrial chemicals tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene, plus two impurities that can, of all things, be introduced into drinking water during the treatment process, acrylamide and epichlorohydrin.

EPA is also taking a new look at 14 other drinking water standards, including a lead and copper rule aimed at protecting children. It's also re-assessing perchlorate, chromium, fluoride, arsenic, and atrazine.

The Johnson Foundation is looking at the "emerging freshwater crisis" within the U.S.  The nonprofit has a list of worries, from emerging contaminants to excess groundwater withdrawals to aging water infrastructure to climate change.

Plastic researchers currently traversing the Indian Ocean used the news peg of the day to post an update on plastic pollution.

If all this is just too grim, take a moment then to ponder some people who are doing something about it. Students in the H2O For Life Club at Abington High School have immersed themselves in the study of water problems.

So far, the group has raised $14,000 to fund a well in Mali, Africa, and a water catchment system in New Delhi, where their partner school reported a drop of health-related illness by 80 percent. This year their goal is to support a village school in Nicaragua with a well, latrines, and a wash house.

They make frequent speeches and host programs as well. One of the H2O students, Emily Crossette, an 11th grader, is sharing the stage with Hillary today.