根據美國「公益研究團體」(PIRG)發表的一份官方數據分析表示,2005年中,共計有數以百萬加侖的污染廢水,在未經檢驗下流入美國水道,而這都是因為超過半數的各州工業區,及市立廢水處理廠排放的污水量超過淨水法案所允許的額度。
另外,報告指出,美國環境保護協會推測於美國國內,超過2萬個水域已污染到無法滿足基本水質標準的地步。而在2006年,包括32個州及哥倫比亞地區,由於有毒物質的污染,而不得不在州內各地備有魚類消費諮詢。
根據淨水法案的協定,回顧以往,其中有62%的工業區及市立廢水處理廠違反其標準。而在2005年中,則有些微的進步——全部許可的廢水處理場中,其中有57%至少違反排放限額一次。
PIRG中提倡乾淨水資源的李薇特(Christy Leavitt)表示:「儘管淨水法案的施行已有35年,但我們的河川、湖泊和溪流依舊無法免於被污染。」
「基於如此多的廢水處理廠傾倒如此可觀的污染物,有超過一半的美國水道不適合游泳及釣魚,也沒有人會感到驚訝,」李薇特說,「但對此,我們應該感到憤怒才對。」
李薇特表示,1972年淨水法案的目標是全面禁止污染物排放至水道,且讓全美水道都能夠游泳及釣魚。過去35年的努力,此項被視為重要里程碑的環保法案在水質管制上已有顯著進步,但可惜的是原先的目標仍然未能達成。
Billions of gallons of polluted wastewater spilled unchecked into America's waterways in 2005 as more than half the country's industrial and municipal wastewater facilities exceeded the limits of their Clean Water Act permits, according to a analysis of official figures released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 20,000 bodies of water throughout the country are too polluted to meet basic water quality standards. In 2006, 32 states and the District of Columbia had statewide fish consumption advisories in place because of toxic pollution, the report points out.
Back then, 62 percent of industrial and municipal facilities were in violation of their permits. During 2005, there was a slight improvement - 57 percent of all permitted facilities exceeded their permit discharge limits at least once.
"As the Clean Water Act turns 35, polluters continue to foul our rivers, lakes and streams," said Christy Leavitt, clean water advocate with U.S. PIRG.
"With so many facilities dumping so much pollution, no one should be surprised that nearly half of America's waterways are unsafe for swimming and fishing," she said. "But we should be outraged."
The goals of the 1972 Clean Water Act are to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into waterways and make all U.S. waterways swimmable and fishable. Over the last three and a half decades, this landmark environmental law has made significant improvements in water quality, said Leavitt, but the original goals have yet to be met.
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