Page 3 - John Rumpler News Today

With kids in South Dakota and around the nation back in school, the issue of whether all students and staff have access to safe drinking water remains a focal point of education and environmental groups. They want federal officials to update a key rule. Organizations such as the National Parent Teacher Association and National Education Association have sent the Environmental Protection Agency a letter - asking it to bolster the Lead and Copper Rule, which regulates the levels of these contami...

Connecticut legislators and environmentalists are taking action against an invasive species in the Connecticut River. Hydrilla was first identified in the waterway in 2016, and has slowly made its way to other parts of the state. Surveys done in 2019 and 2020 found the plant made its way as far as Agawam, Massachusetts. ...

The DEP's regular water quality tests have revealed persistent bacteria levels in these coastal waters.

A nonprofit’s study says bacteria levels in the surf are unacceptable. City officials question the study’s conclusions.

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Collaboration. With more than 39 million people , California is the most populous state in the country. Unofficially divided into northern, central, and southern regions, the state has beaches, deserts, farmland, and mountains. ...

Last week, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared an emergency in response to the intense heat wave being felt around the state. The governor had received criticism from some in Arizona who said she was not doing enough to address the issue, as parts of Arizona recently set a record of 30 consecutive days of 110 degrees or greater. ...

In 2021, Colorado lawmakers required utilities supplying natural gas for heating homes and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4% by 2025, and by 22% by 2030. This month Xcel Energy released its Clean Heat Plan, the first of its kind in the nation, which outlines how the company will meet those targets. Brett Anton, field organizer for the Colorado chapter of the Sierra Club, explained some of the companys options. ...

More work and investment are needed to ensure all waters in Maine are safe for swimming, according to a new report. At least 36 beaches in the state were potentially unsafe for swimming at some point during 2022. John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment Maine, said polluted runoff and failing sewer systems are putting swimmers health at risk. ...

Taking a dip at the wrong time or place can make you sick — here’s what to look out for.

Nearly half of all Michigan beaches saw unsafe levels of fecal bacteria last year, according to a new study.