Photo credit: Jim Dublinski
August is National Water Quality Month, giving us a perfect chance to reflect on our relationship with water and its importance to the well-being of our health, environment, and communities. This time also offers a great opportunity to clarify common misconceptions about water quality and share some facts to raise awareness about this vital resource.
1. If I don’t see algae, dead fish, or trash, the water must be safe to use. Even when it looks clear, water can still be dangerous to drink or touch. Often, the most harmful pollutants are not visible to the naked eye. For example, viruses, bacteria, and toxic substances from pesticides and herbicides that may be present in water cannot be detected without specialized testing. In fact, bacteria, which are harmful to human health, is the leading cause of pollution in Texas surface waters, accounting for about 44% of all recorded water quality impairments. So, don’t be fooled - just because you can’t see or smell anything suspicious doesn’t mean that the water is as clean as it seems. The Surface Water Quality Viewer is a great tool to check which lakes, rivers, and streams in Texas are polluted and which are not.
2. Only factories and big companies pollute surface waters. When you think of pollution in rivers, lakes, and streams, you might picture factories and big industries discharging wastewater directly into water bodies, and you’d be right - this is called point source pollution. And while Texas has been scoring high on industrial water pollution, industries aren’t the only troublemakers. There’s also a less obvious type of pollution called nonpoint source pollution, which is the leading cause of pollution in Texas waterways. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainwater runs off land, picking up pollutants - like chemicals, bacteria, and sediment - from roads and other surfaces that can’t absorb water, and carries them into the nearest water body. This runoff can seriously harm water quality and is tough to control. So, it’s not just about industrial discharges - everything we do on land affects our water quality.
3. Boiling surface water makes it safe to drink. Boiling tap water is a popular way to kill bacteria and remove chemicals like chlorine, which is used by many utilities and is generally safe for us. However, boiling untreated surface water - such as from lakes and rivers - isn’t going to help remove some dangerous pollutants. For example, chemicals like atrazine from herbicides, nitrates from fertilizers, and heavy metals like lead or mercury may be present in surface water and cannot be removed by boiling. In this case, boiling water will only serve to turn it into a hot mystery cocktail of pollutants. Without proper filtration, there is no way to ensure that surface water is safe for consumption.
4. The quality of surface water doesn’t impact groundwater. Surface water and groundwater are hydrologically connected. Rivers, lakes, and wetlands help recharge aquifers storing groundwater, while groundwater sustains streamflow in rivers and water levels in lakes. In fact, about 30% of water flowing in Texas rivers comes from groundwater, according to the Texas Aquifers Study conducted by the Texas Water Development Board. This means that water quality changes in one water source can affect the other. It is important to note that Texas water law treats surface and groundwater separately, ignoring this critical interconnection and making it problematic to effectively manage water quality and quantity in Texas.
5. Water pollution only happens in big cities where many people live. While increased human activity in big cities can deteriorate surface water quality, water pollution can happen in less populated areas as well. For example, in rural areas, where agricultural activities are prevalent, runoff from farms containing toxic substances from fertilizers and bacteria from animal waste can pollute rivers and streams, posing a threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, inadequate or outdated sewage treatment facilities and industrial activities from plants and factories located in smaller communities can pollute local waterways as much as they do in big cities.
6. Because streams and rivers flow, natural filtration removes all pollutants. While it's true that flowing water has some natural self-purification abilities, they are influenced by various factors. The effectiveness of natural filtration depends on the amount of flowing water, flow velocity (speed), water temperature, presence of beneficial microorganisms, the extent of sunlight exposure, oxygen levels in water, the structure of the bottom, and other physical, chemical, and biological factors. Additionally, as the Texas population continues to grow, driving a significant loss of native landscapes to urban development, the ability of streams and rivers to purify themselves is further affected. Finally, it is also important to remember that certain pollutants, such as heavy metals and synthetic substances from industrial discharges, cannot be easily removed through natural filtration. The combination of all of these factors can exceed the capacity of streams and rivers to naturally purify, leading to decreased water quality.
7. Only lawmakers can decide if a water body is clean or polluted. This is not true. While lawmakers and regulatory agencies play an important role in setting surface water quality standards, they cannot make these decisions on their own. Under the Clean Water Act, regulating water pollution in the U.S., water quality decisions must involve public input. In our state, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) oversees this process. Texans can participate in water quality decision-making by attending stakeholder meetings and public hearings, and submitting their comments to TCEQ. It’s important for every Texan to exercise this right, as local voices help TCEQ become aware of and address specific water quality concerns in communities across the state. The ongoing revision of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards presents a great opportunity for you to get involved and speak up for water quality in your community. Another way to make your voice heard is by signing our petition to urge TCEQ to strengthen surface water quality standards. Click here to sign and take action!