Alarm over drinking-water safety hits the news again
September 3, 2008

The Wall Street Journal recently carried a story highlighting public concern with drinking-water safety, including the alarm of groups concerned with pharmaceutical residuals and common disinfection chemicals. Fortunately, the story accurately noted that bottled water is by no means safer than tap water. However, the story overlooked the most significant factor that nearly always inhibits improvements in drinking-water quality: Public resistance to higher rates. The same public that will pay $3.50 per gallon for milk or gasoline or $1 for a 9-ounce bottle of water from a vending machine has been habituated to expect municipal water rates to remain close to zero, and never to rise -- even when a place like North Platte delivers safe municipal drinking water for a third of a cent per gallon.

September 2008
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last revised September 2008