'This is a safety concern': Missouri DNR reviewing permit for water tower as Sunset Hills residents voice concerns
SUNSET HILLS, Mo. — It's not every day you see a new water tower being proposed or built in your town. Most of the time, it's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event.
That's why some residents of Sunset Hills want their city leaders, Missouri American Water, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to get it right.
So far, some of them feel like they've been left in the dark about the potential of a new water tower that could place a sizeable shadow over their backyards.
"We feel like the whole process really hasn't been transparent," said Sunset Hills resident Angie Weigel. "They passed a conditional use permit, or the city of Sunset Hills did, without doing what I consider their due diligence. They didn't look at the safety aspects. They didn't look at all the recommendations from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. We think these recommendations are really what should happen. This is a safety concern."
Weigel said the proposed water tower would be 60 feet from her house, where her children play and sleep at night. She's worried about the potential of a catastrophic event, like a tornado, seismic event, or a sinkhole bringing down the tower onto their homes.
She's not alone. Weigel is also part of a Facebook group that is trying to stop the construction of the tower.
Jen Carlson also lives by the proposed site and says she is very concerned about safety.
"This is Missouri American Water's first attempt in St. Louis County at building a water tower of this capacity and height," wrote Carlson in an email. "It will set a precedent for what they will attempt in other replacements in St. Louis County. We are concerned for future MAWC neighbors throughout St. Louis County."
No one is questioning the fact that the current 1930s water tower needs to be replaced, but residents say they expected a comparable water tower to be proposed. Instead, this one is much bigger and would continue to benefit homes across south county.
The new tower would be 117 feet tall, 19 feet taller than the original. It would also have six times the capacity of the original. It would sit on a 1/2 acore lot--about the size of an average residential lot. The same water utility company is building a similar capacity tower in St. Peters on three acres.
Sunset Hills residents like Carlson and Weigel said they're mostly concerned that the tower is clearly within a fall zone, meaning if there happened to be a catastrophic failure of the tower, it would likely topple on homes.
Missouri American Water spokesperson Samantha Williams told 5 On Your Side plans on building the 1.5 million-gallon water tank would serve as the control point for pressure management and pump operation in South County, similar to the existing tank it's replacing. A spokesperson wrote in an email that since the 1930s, drinking water and fire flow needs for Sunset Hills and surrounding communities have changed dramatically as the population grew. Missouri American Water said repairs on the existing tower are no longer practical and the new tank's size was determined based on the needs of the area.
It's grown to be a complicated issue within the city of Sunset Hills, too. The mayor, Pat Fribis, told 5 On Your Side the alderman later voted to not sign a zoning letter, so it's now in the hands of the Department of Natural Resources.
From January to the current day, there have been back and forth decisions to squabbles over anti-water tower signs disappearing from yards, from vocal opponents of the water tower claiming the city is targeting them for leaving their trash bins out too long. Some say it seems to have taken a personal twist.
In January, the mayor broke a tie between aldermen to give the utility a conditional use permit. In June, the board of alderman passed a motion to direct city staff to not review the permit application from Missouri American Water or their consultants. By July, the Missouri DNR received a construction permit application from Missouri American Water, and by August the DNR requested more information. A DNR spokesperson tells 5 On Your Side the application is still under review and no decision has been made.
Those who support a new water tower believe it will increase water pressure, but a report showed that at best, residents may see an increase of 4 points -- or 4psi of static pressure at most times.
"A Missouri American Water representative advised one of our city staff that if the towers are built, it might increase the pressure for some people by four points," said Cathy Friedmann, a Sunset Hills alderwoman. "I don't know that a four-point increase in water pressure is going to satisfy what most people want."
Opponents of the tower say safety is really their biggest concern.
Alderwoman Friedmann mentioned that a survey found the ground on the Sunset Hills proposed lot is limestone, which can be prone to sinkholes.
Missouri American Water said the construction is safe is consistent with other tank sites across Missouri and the US.
The thought of having a bigger and taller tower will never sit well with Weigel, though she is concerned she won't be able to move, either.
"If this is within the fall zone of my home and my neighbors' homes, I'm not sure it's a sellable home," said Weigel. "We're going to write letters to all the government entities and to the media, to make sure that this tower doesn't end up in our backyard, or anyone else's backyard."
Is Drinking Tap Water Safe?
The debate between drinking tap water or bottled water seems to be endless.
In most parts of the United States and Canada, it’s safe to drink tap water from public water systems. Tap water that’s been properly filtered is equally safe as bottled water and provides you with essential minerals you may not get from bottled water.
Even though it’s usually safe to drink tap water, it’s still a good idea to keep an eye out for local water advisories in your area. Situations like a broken water line or equipment failure at the water treatment plant can lead to temporary contamination.
You may also want to stick to bottled water when traveling to developing countries that don’t have the same level of infrastructure or safety standards. For example, a 2017 research review showed that Mexico’s maximum allowable limit of arsenic in drinking water is 2.5 times higherTrusted Source than the World Health Organization’s recommendation.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about drinking tap water in North America.
Even tap water that’s safe to drink isn’t made up of 100 percent water. You can also find traces of minerals and small amounts of containments at levels deemed to be safe for human health.
Fluoride
The mineral fluoride is added to water in the United States to help strengthen your teeth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies have found drinking fluoridated water prevents your risk of tooth decay by about 25 percentTrusted Source.
Chlorine and chloramine
Disinfectants like chlorine or chloramine are added to drinking water to kill germs that can make you sick. These disinfectants are added in very small amounts that haven’t been found to cause harmful health effects in humans.
For example, the CDC says that chlorine levels up to 4 parts per millionTrusted Source are considered safe for human consumption.
Minerals
Tap water contains minerals that are essential for human health. Some of these minerals occur naturally and some are added.
According to a 2013 study, drinking a quart of tap water provides you with about 1 percent of your daily required copper, calcium, magnesium, and sodium. The researchers found no significant differences in the overall mineral content of water extracted from 144 sampling locations across the United States.
Tap water also contains other minerals, such as:
- potassium
- iron
- phosphorous
- zinc
The taste of tap water can differ depending on the amounts and ratios of minerals dissolved in it. For instance, high levels of iron may give your water a metallic taste.
Contaminants
Even water considered safe can contain traces of contaminants in amounts not deemed to be dangerous for human health.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has limits on more than 90 potential substances that may be unsafe for humans. For example, the limit for arsenic is 10 parts per billion.
There also might be a microscopic amount of other contaminants in your water that aren’t harmful to your health, such as soil or sediment.
According to the EPA, water can be contaminated with various types of pollutants that may make it unsafe.
Bacteria and parasites
Tap water can contain microorganisms like bacteria or parasites that make you sick. If potentially dangerous microorganisms are detected in tap water, your local health authority will likely declare a “boil water advisory.”
Cryptosporidium, E. coli, and Giardia are three harmful organisms that can leak into drinking water through sewage.
Chemicals
Both human-made and natural chemicals can make their way into drinking water. Pesticides, bleach, and bacterial toxins are some of the potential things that can have harmful health effects.
Other chemicals like bisphenol-A and pharmaceuticals are also sometimes detected in groundwater sources. Often these chemicals are filtered before reaching your tap.
Radioactive elements
Radioactive elements chemicals like uranium, cesium, plutonium are sometimes detected in drinking water. These elements can emit ionizing radiation that can harm cells in your body and raise your risk of developing cancer.
Other types of ionizing radiation people are exposed to include X-rays and ultraviolet light.
Heavy metals
Heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, or lead can enter your water supply through plumbing and service lines as well as through natural mineral deposits. The EPA says that people who consume a lot of these minerals may develop sudden or long-term toxicity that’s linked to:
Certain groups of people are more sensitive to containments. They include:
- infants
- young children
- pregnant women
- adults more than 65 years old
- people undergoing chemotherapy
- people with HIV or AIDS
- people with other immunocompromising conditions
Children, babies, and fetuses have less blood volume than adults, and contaminants like heavy metals can have a greater effect on them. People who are immunocompromised may be more vulnerable to bacteria and parasites.
Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 to ensure the quality of public water systems in the United States.
According to the CDCTrusted Source, the United States has one of the safest water systems in the world. All public water systems follow guidelines set by the EPA. However, the EPA doesn’t monitor private wells.
The EPA says that more than 13 million homes in the United States get their water from private wells. It’s up to the well owner to make sure the water is safe for consumption.
Most of the time, your local health authority will send out an alert if your water supply becomes contaminated. In very rare cases, contaminants may enter public water systems and go unnoticed.
The case of Flint, Michigan
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Flint, Michigan, officials failed to take action when residents complained about the taste and smell of their drinking water in 2014. It was later discovered that more than 100,000 people were exposed to high levels of lead that would prompt President Barack Obama to declare a federal state of emergency.
Like in the United States, Canadian drinking water goes through rigorous safety standards and is generally safe to drink. Health Canada’s Water and Air Quality Bureauworks with provinces, territories, and municipalities to develop guidelines for water safety.
Canadians and people visiting Canada should still keep an eye out for local water advisories.
The drinking water in many areas in Mexico isn’t safe to drink. A 2018 study found that only 7 percentTrusted Source of people in Guadalajara, Mexico’s third-largest metro area, drink the tap water.
Even in areas where water is purified, water can often be contaminated by pipes or water holding tanks. Travelers are often recommended to buy bottled water in Mexico.
Every year, you should receive a Consumer Confidence Report from your local water supplier by July 1, telling you your water source and what’s in it. You can also search for your local CCR from the EPA website.
According to the World Health Organization, you’re largely unableTrusted Source to determine the quality of your water using your own senses.
A strange taste, appearance, or odor may indicate pollution or malfunction during water treatment. But in some cases, these abnormalities may be caused by the mineral content.
Drinking tap water that’s contaminated with microorganisms can lead to gastrointestinal illness. Common symptoms include:
You can also develop hepatitis from contaminated drinking water, which is especially likely to cause severe health effects in people who are immunocompromised.
Exposure to chemicals can cause short-term or long-term effects. According to the EPA, high doses of chemicals can cause symptoms that include:
- skin discoloration
- nerve problems
- organ damage
- reproductive damage
- cancer
Local health officials sometimes issue boil water advisories to kill germs that may make you sick.
If you don’t have access to bottled water during a boil water advisory, the CDCTrusted Source recommends bringing tap water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and then allowing the water to cool before using it.
Bottled water and water filters are both potential alternatives to tap water.
Bottled water
The FDATrusted Source oversees the safety of bottled water. Normally, bottled water and tap water are both considered very safe in the United States. Bottled water is the better choice in areas where tap water isn’t safe to drink or if there’s a water advisory.
Water filters
Many types of home water filters are available. Some filters attach directly to your sink, and some brands sell pitchers with filters in them.
Not all water filters make your water safer. Some water filters are only designed to improve the taste.
Tap water is generally safe to drink in the United States and Canada, but you should watch for water advisories released by your local health authority. A breakage in a water line or malfunction at the treatment plant can lead to temporary contamination.
When visiting developing countries such as Mexico, you may want to avoid the tap water to be safe.
Nearly 60 million Americans don’t drink their tap water, research suggests – here’s why that’s a public health problem
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Imagine seeing a news report about lead contamination in drinking water in a community that looks like yours. It might make you think twice about whether to drink your tap water or serve it to your kids – especially if you also have experienced tap water problems in the past.
In a new study, my colleagues Anisha Patel, Francesca Weaks and I estimate that approximately 61.4 million people in the U.S. did not drink their tap water as of 2017-2018. Our research, which was released in preprint format on April 8, 2021, and has not yet been peer reviewed, found that this number has grown sharply in the past several years.
Other research has shown that about 2 million Americans don’t have access to clean water. Taking that into account, our findings suggest that about 59 million people have tap water access from either their municipality or private wells or cisterns, but don’t drink it. While some may have contaminated water, others may be avoiding water that’s actually safe.
Water insecurity is an underrecognized but growing problem in the U.S. Tap water distrust is part of the problem. And it’s critical to understand what drives it, because people who don’t trust their tap water shift to more expensive and often less healthy options, like bottled water or sugary drinks.
I’m a human biologist and have studied water and health for the past decade in places as diverse as Lowland Bolivia and northern Kenya. Now I run the Water, Health, and Nutrition Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University. To understand water issues, I talk to people and use large datasets to see whether a problem is unique or widespread, and stable or growing.A video from the South Coast Water District in southern California urges customers to choose tap water over bottled water.
An epidemic of distrust
According to our research, there’s a growing epidemic of tap water distrust and disuse in the U.S. In a 2020 study, anthropologist Sera Young and I found that tap water avoidance was declining before the Flint water crisis that began in 2014. In 2015-2016, however, it started to increase again for children.
Our new study found that in 2017-2018, the number of Americans who didn’t drink tap water increased at an alarmingly high rate, particularly for Black and Hispanic adults and children. Since 2013-2014 – just before the Flint water crisis began – the prevalence of adults who do not drink their tap water has increased by 40%. Among children, not consuming tap has risen by 63%.
To calculate this change, we used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey that releases data in two-year cycles. Sampling weights that use demographic characteristics ensure that the people being sampled are representative of the broader U.S. population.
Jackson, Mississippi, residents pick up bottled water at a city distribution center on Feb. 18, 2021. Much of the city was without because of problems at its water treatment plant. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
Racial disparities in tap water consumption
Communities of color have long experienced environmental injustice across the U.S. Black, Hispanic and Native American residents are more likely to live in environmentally disadvantaged neighborhoods, with exposure to water that violates quality standards.
Our findings reflect these experiences. We calculated that Black and Hispanic children and adults are two to three times more likely to report not drinking their tap water than members of white households. In 2017-2018, roughly 3 out of 10 Black adults and children and nearly 4 of 10 Hispanic adults and children didn’t drink their tap water. Approximately 2 of 10 Asian Americans didn’t drink from their tap, while only 1 of 10 white Americans didn’t drink their tap water.
When children don’t drink any water on a given day, research shows that they consume twice as many calories from sugary drinks as children who drink water. Higher sugary drink consumption increases risk of cavities, obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Drinking tap water provides fluoride, which lowers the risk of cavities. Relying on water alternatives is also much more expensive than drinking tap water.
What erodes trust
News reports – particularly high-visibility events like advisories to boil water – lead people to distrust their tap water even after the problem is fixed. For example, a 2019 study showed that water quality violations across the U.S. between 2006 and 2015 led to increases in bottled water purchases in affected counties as a way to avoid tap water, and purchase rates remained elevated after the violation.
The Flint water crisis drew national attention to water insecurity, even though state and federal regulators were slow to respond to residents’ complaints there. Soon afterward, lead contamination was found in the water supply of Newark, New Jersey; the city is currently replacing all lead service lines under a legal settlement. Elsewhere, media outlets and advocacy groups have reported finding tap water samples contaminated with industrial chemicals, lead, arsenic and other contaminants.
Many other factors can cause people to distrust their water supply, including smell, taste and appearance, as well as lower income levels. Location is also an issue: Older U.S. cities with aging infrastructure are more prone to water shutoffs and water quality problems.
It’s important not to blame people for distrusting what comes out of their tap, because those fears are rooted in history. In my view, addressing water insecurity requires a two-part strategy: ensuring that everyone has access to clean water, and increasing trust so people who have safe water will use it.
Building confidence
As part of his proposed infrastructure plan, President Joe Biden is asking Congress for US$111 billion to improve water delivery systems, replace lead pipelines and tackle other contaminants. The plan also proposes improvements for small water systems and underserved communities.
These are critical steps to rebuild trust. Yet, in my view, the Environmental Protection Agency should also provide better public education about water quality testing and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations, such as children and underserved communities. Initiatives to simplify and improve water quality reports can help people understand what’s in their water and what they can do if they think something is wrong with it.
Who delivers those messages is important. In areas like Flint, where former government officials have been indicted on charges including negligence and perjury in connection with the water crisis, the government’s word alone won’t rebuild trust. Instead, community members can fill this critical role.
Another priority is the 13%-15% of Americans who rely on private well water, which is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These households are responsible for their own water quality testing. Public funding would help them test it regularly and address any problems.
Public distrust of tap water in the U.S. reflects decades of policies that have reduced access to reliable, safe drinking water in communities of color. Fixing water lines is important, but so is giving people confidence to turn on the tap.
