A report by the Environmental Working Group indicates more than 7 million people drink water that contains herbicide levels exceeding EPA Lifetime Health Advisories, and Maximum Contaminant Levels. Pollutants discharged into the nations surface waters by U.S. manufacturing facilities totalled 244 million pounds in 1991 . Pennsylvania leads the nation in outbreaks of diseases attributed to drinking water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 23 incidents between 1986 and 1994. A report by the USDA, in 1996, has estimated that 106,000 Oregonians living in rural areas are without safe drinking water.
Problems involving pollution and turbidity appear to be the health threat.