Poisoned wells are unfortunately not the stuff of fairy tales for Texas residents in the San Antonio area, as the Bear Creek Well was taken out of service in early June after a “raw water sample tested positive for E. coli,” according to KSAT News. while the Bear Creek Well does not supply residents as far northeast as New Braunfels, the idea of E. coli in a public water source is a definite sense of worry for area residents, who risk not even knowing the safety status of their home’s water supply. The Environmental Protection Agency requires under the Groundwater Rule that public notice must be provided if wells “test positive for E. coli or fecal bacteria,” according to KSAT News. According to Environmental Health News, “throughout the nation, metals and other elements are tainting private drinking water wells at concentrations that pose a health concern.” The most pervasive elemental polluter in wells across the country is manganese, and in Texas, lithium has reared its ugly head in many residential wells. E. Coli, of course, poses different challenges, causing severe diarrhea and kidney damage, according to Accepta.com. Each year, according to the annual Human Development report issued by the United Nations Development Program, 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water and nearly two million children die each year for want of clean water and proper sanitation. This, of course, affects populations in underdeveloped nations far more than in developed nations such as the U.S., but some environmentalists argue that the decreasing water supply could soon affect Americans similarly if the resource is not preserved. If you or someone you know has been affected by the water situation in Texas, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact a New Braunfels-area personal injury attorney today.
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