JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Both Florida and Georgia rank among the top states in the nation when it comes to the largest number of violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
In a 26-page report, the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council finds nearly 1 in 4 Americans' drinking water comes from untested or contaminated systems.
The study finds the top violations by population were:
1. Texas
2. Florida
3. Pennsylvania
4. New Jersey
5. Georgia
It says 7.5 million Floridians were exposed to unsafe water in 2015.
The council points out that the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcing rules for public water systems, but said that nearly nine in 10 drinking water violations were not enforced.
In a statement, the EPA pointed the finger of blame, saying, "This is an area in which the past administration failed, as we saw in the devastating consequences of Flint, Michigan, and East Chicago, Indiana."
To fix the problems with the tap water supply, the nonprofit's report found there needs to be more funding to fix aging pipes. Water treatment plants need to be updated so they can find better ways to disinfect the water. And there needs to be a better system to enforce violations.
The nonprofit did not look at violations by county.