Paraguay’s Strategic Success in Water Accessibility
One of the biggest challenges facing water security, especially in developing nations, is accessibility. A country can have a surplus of quality water, but if they are unable to access it, this presents a major problem. Paraguay, a nation which has faced multiple water security challenges, is tackling water accessibility in an unprecedented way. Their approach was simple: better water law, improved governance institutions, and emphasis on sustainability. Sound familiar? It’s
NPR's "Here and Now" discusses the U.S. Lead and Copper Rule
With the third anniversary of the decision in Flint to switch water sources this coming week, Here & Now focuses on the Lead and Copper Rule. Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, who was at the forefront of bringing Flint to the forefront, pulls no punches, calling the rule a "sick joke on the American people." The segment also discusses other legal responses like class actions and criminal charges that have been part of the reaction to Flint and similar controversies. Lis
Water Glitters, Too.
El Salvador announced this week that it was halting metals mining across the country, according to the Financial Times (sub. req.), in response to severe environmental harm caused by mining. After winning a case at ICSID about a large gold mining concession late last year, the government's decision seems to indicate a new desire to reverse some of the human health issues linked to the mining operations. But the decision was also deeply tied to the water resources of the coun
The Flint February Fall-out
Having laid out a lot of the legal and factual aspects of the Flint crisis, there are still a lot of questions about the remedies. Unfortunately, the current state of affairs does not really appear to be changing very much, but there is a great deal of blame-laying and jockeying for position among leaders and lawyers. First, in an op-ed in the Washington Post (sub. req.) on Wednesday, Public Health professor and children's health advocate Irwin Redlener (@IrwinRedlenerMD) ca
The Safe Drinking Water Act applied in Michigan
As discussed in the previous post, the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”) requires public water supplies to protect human health by meeting the MCLs (Maximum Contaminant Loads) established by EPA and the State. Below we discuss: - the division of authority between EPA and Michigan, and - public water systems’ responsibility in providing safe drinking water. THE DIVISION OF AUTHORITY BETWEEN EPA AND THE STATE Most states, including Michigan, have the authority to administer thei
