As I was reading through this month’s issue of the Weaver’s Way Shuttle, I was thrilled to see two articles that discuss important current issues that have the potential to greatly affect water quality in the U.S.
Nuclear Energy Isn’t Clean or Cheap discusses the possible detrimental effects from nuclear energy production on our water supply. Here are some disturbing facts from the article:
One third of U.S. reactors, are leaking cancer-causing tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Tritium is a gas that can cross the placenta when dissolved in water, risking birth defects and cancer. There is no minimum threshold below which there is no risk. . .
In California, the Diablo Canyon and San Onofre reactors draw in over 15 billion gallons of sea water for cooling every day. The water is returned to the sea 20 degrees hotter. This kills tens of thousands of fish and crabs and billions of fish larvae every day, and it warms the sea. . .
Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General in New York, called for an immediate shut down of Entergy’s two reactors at Indian Point because of a history of unsafe operations, as well as its proximity to New York City, 42 miles south. These reactors suck up 2.5 billion gallons of water every day and then pour it back into the Hudson River, hot and untreated.
In the article Park Slope Co-op to Bar Food From “Fracking”Areas the management of the co-op states that they will discontinue buying products from areas where hydrofracking is occurring. Go Park Slope Co-op!
From the article:
Hydrofracking is an underground drilling technique that involves high pressure injection of millions of gallons of chemical laced water into a well to crack rock and release natural gas.
Opponents fear it could not only endanger drinking water, but contaminate the soil above and the plants and animals it is supposed to nourish. . .
“As members of the Pride of New York program we have taken our responsibility to buy New York State produced food very seriously,” [Park Slope General Manager Joe] Holtz wrote. “But no one thinking clearly would think for a minute that hydrofracking will not quickly destroy that commitment.
Click here to download the January issue of the shuttle. Click here to read more TTF coverage of natural gas drilling.
