| The majority of those living in the United States are | | | | the small town of Colfax, California. The town has |
| able to turn on a water tap and receive an unlimited | | | | been found in violation of the Clean Water Act of |
| supply of disease-free, clean drinking water. In many | | | | 1972. It was alleged that their water treatment |
| areas, state-of-the-art water filtration units are used | | | | facilities allowed raw sewage to leave its treatment |
| to ensure that the water delivered to customers is | | | | plant which was upstream of a family farm. The |
| of the best quality possible. Many small towns, | | | | farmer filed the lawsuit when living conditions became |
| however, are still relying on older, less reliable | | | | unbearable which was his right. The plaintiff in the suit |
| methods, and equipment which has their citizens | | | | alleged that he had been trying to get the town to |
| wondering about the quality of the water they are | | | | update outdated water filtration systems for years, |
| receiving. | | | | and it got to the point where enough was enough. |
| Although government requirements for drinking water | | | | Unfortunately, this small town is between a rock and |
| filtering and treatment are the same for both large | | | | a hard place. They don't have the revenue to replace |
| metropolitan areas and small towns alike, many small | | | | the antiquated equipment, and they will have to file |
| towns are suffering from budget shortfalls which | | | | for bankruptcy if the courts find in favor of the |
| don't allow them to upgrade their equipment, perform | | | | farmer. Sadly, this case isn't unique which is forcing |
| required tests, and keep their water quality above | | | | many towns, and even Amish farmers, to pay huge |
| standard levels. This can be particularly troublesome in | | | | legal fees in an effort to keep afloat. Municipal water |
| smaller towns that are located in rural, farming or | | | | filtration, in many cases, is a victim of the failing |
| mining areas where toxic run-off can present an | | | | infrastructure within the United States at the present |
| even greater problem than it does in the cities. | | | | time, and the government doesn't seem to be |
| One example of these problems occurred recently in | | | | moving very quickly to halt the problem. |