Clean wells left to chance
More than 2 million North Carolinians drink water from private wells. Most of them have no idea how dangerous that can be. At least three attempts during the past 15 years to require even minimal testing of private wells have been defeated.
State failing to ensure suppliers test your water
The state agency responsible for making sure drinking water is safe isn't getting the job done. The Public Water Supply Section, with 98 employees, has been overwhelmed trying to monitor safety tests required of nearly 7,000 public water systems.
Silence, flawed test data hide lead contamination
Some water systems, including Raleigh's, don't test the homes most likely to have lead, a violation of federal rules. Some systems drop houses that test positive for lead from future tests, another violation that increases the system's chance of passing.
- Transcript from chat with reporter Pat Stith
- For years, key office not told of day care's violations
- Using The N&O inquiry as guide, state reacts
- How to get involved with the quality of your water
- Bottled water difference is often a few steps
- The experts didn't talk (PDF)
- How lead gets in your water (PDF)
- City water versus bottled water (PDF)
- Looking for lead in all the wrong places
- Why only test from 1983 to 1986?
- Rising sales: Bottled water sales, 1993 - 2003
- Violations Database: Public water systems in North Carolina
- Interactive map
Water
Water fund goes to 4 houses
North Carolina spends $185,000 each on homes with tainted wells in Jackson County.
Orange water tests find no violations
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority said Tuesday that recent testing of drinking water in 21 new buildings found no violations of lead standards under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
Durham's water supply near normal
Durham's water supply has been holding up despite the dry weather, city officials said.
Water problems exposed
Public records helped reveal selective reporting of test results.
Misplaced samples delayed water test
Durham officials say samples were moved, then not picked up by private lab.
Data discrepancies hobble Durham lead tests
Electronic records differ from written.
Durham recants on water tests
The city now acknowledges that its water fell considerably short of federal health standards for lead.
Durham withheld bad lead-test results
The city acknowledges failing to let state regulators know about at least 20 samples from seven homes. It also did not alert some homeowners about tainted tap water.
Durham will flush its water lines
The city says the work is routine cleaning and is not related to recent lead problems.
Lead tests prompt caution to water users
Children whose blood was tested showed increased levels of lead after an Eastern North Carolina city switched its water purification chemicals, Duke University researchers have found.
Reducing lead risk in water
People who live in older homes can have the taps tested for lead.
Durham school still has lead risk
The only option for fixing a problem with lead in the water at Y.E. Smith Elementary School is to replace the water lines at a cost of $180,000, administrators say.
EPA rebuts Durham on lead test
The federal agency differs with the city on removing aerators before taking water samples.
Water passes a lead test
Durham has cleared a federal hurdle but urges residents to keep using water with care.
Sewage spill got played down
Earlier this month, state environmental officials fined the city $33,431 after an investigation determined that the 21-inch-diameter sewer line failed because of corrosion.
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Interactive Map:
Easley wants water money
N.C. Division of Water Quality: County well regulation programs
