Divers in Mobile, Alabama, stumbled upon an improvised explosive device earlier this week that had been placed underwater at a dam in what authorities are calling an &#8220;unprecedented threat&#8221; to the city&#8217;s drinking water.
A diving team that was surveying the J.B. Converse Reservoir dam for routine maintenance on Tuesday found a grenade-like IED, <a href="https://www.fox10tv.com/2026/05/13/explosive-device-found-detonated-mobile-water-reservoir/">according</a> to Mobile&#8217;s Fox 10 News. The divers immediately notified authorities, sparking a multi-agency response that included the FBI Bomb Squad. The IED was safely removed from the reservoir and detonated. The reservoir, which <a href="https://www.mawss.com/learning-center/protecting-our-water/">holds</a> around 17 billion gallons of water, is federally designated as critical infrastructure.
“This is an unprecedented threat, and we are fortunate that this device was discovered before it could cause serious damage to our water supply or harm to individuals,&#8221; said Bud McCrory, the director of the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System. &#8220;We are grateful for the professionalism and competency of our law enforcement partners — as well as the quick thinking of our contractors and divers — in identifying this device and safely destroying it.&#8221;
“Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe,” McCrory added.
The response also included officers from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordinance Detail, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Bomb Squad, and the Daphne, Alabama, Search and Rescue Team.
Local officials notified the Department of Homeland Security after the explosive was discovered. Authorities have not identified a suspect as of Thursday morning.
The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System said it plans to <a href="https://www.wkrg.com/news/explosive-device-found-at-big-creek-lake-detonated/">increase</a> security around the dam following the troubling find. The reservoir, built in 1952, is protected from surrounding developments by 9,000 acres of land.

J.B. Converse Reservoir Dam in Mobile County

Drinking Water For Thousands Threatened After Disturbing Discovery Underwater

Alabama

Drinking Water

explosives

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Ever feel like everyone and everything is the absolute worst? It’s not your fault. Just this once, we’re letting your spouse, your boss, your kids, and that complete idiot in the Target parking lot off the hook. Your <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTKMZjwE1g3/">bad mood</a>, racing thoughts, or out-of-the-blue exhaustion could be your brain’s thirsty cry for help. Luckily, you can part the mental clouds and boost your sunny mood by drinking a glass of water.
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22190027/">Studies</a> show that even slight dehydration can leave healthy women feeling aggressive and depressed. Long story short, not drinking enough water really messes with your hormones. It pumps up the stress hormone <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dehydration-and-affect-on-mental-health">cortisol</a> and dampens the serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine that help you chill. So is it a surprise that the little fight-or-flight voice in your head is telling you to start a street brawl with the Amazon delivery driver?
Grab a Blueberry Hibiscus <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Topo-Chico-Sabores-Blueberry-With-Hibiscus-Extract-Cans-12-fl-oz-8-Pack/5288913533?wmlspartner=wlpa&amp;selectedSellerId=102749125&amp;selectedOfferId=A2BDF1EB1FDC3ED6A6D10903B3887465&amp;conditionGroupCode=1&amp;sourceid=dsn_gdn_2005b0c9-e4c7-4f46-8aaa-443883a5e447&amp;veh=dsn&amp;wmlspartner=dsn_gdn_2005b0c9-e4c7-4f46-8aaa-443883a5e447&amp;cn=00c3_fy27_mp_mp_lo_int_dis_pmax-main&amp;wl9=pla&amp;wl11=online&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23143211640&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIoKNcQ7Uw5GTNR3kz-V1H7CW&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw7vzOBhBxEiwAc7WNr3C8lvjOigl06gihVkxUmlxtpYmtsIX-GP5fEee8erAYzNIQyOta4xoC5SoQAvD_BwE">Topo Chico</a> and huddle up: Drinking enough water keeps you from accidentally starring on one of those true crime documentaries about a woman who went ham on her family. She was “such a great mom” and “always made these amazing brownies for the bake sale” — until she forgot to fill up her Stanley before school pick-up and lost her freakin’ mind. 
“When we lose fluid through sweat, we breathe, we do everyday activities, if those fluids aren’t replaced … that can lead to mood changes. We can be irritable, stressed, and kind of feel fatigued,” registered dietitian for Blue Cross Blue Shield <a href="https://www.9and10news.com/2026/03/24/wellness-for-the-family-why-dehydration-could-be-affecting-your-mood-and-what-to-do-before-summer-hits/">Shanthi Apello</a> said.
You heard that right. Everything we do taps into our body’s <a href="https://resourcecenter.kinetico.com/water-home-health/water-consumption/">60% water supply</a>. But it’s gonna be okay, She-Hulk. Water may be a <a href="https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/bottled-water-market-115354#:~:text=The%20global%20bottled%20water%20market,5.93%25%20during%20the%20forecast%20period.">$540 billion</a> global industry, but it’s also basically free from the tap.
Back when a historical drought was trending in Los Angeles, I spent a little time researching what I could do to help, other than not starting an almond farm where a single nut allegedly needs a <a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/how-an-almond-farm-is-rethinking-water-use-11935028#:~:text=Smith%20says%20that%20while%20almonds,industry%20as%20supplemental%20cattle%20feed.%22">gallon of water</a> to grow. Sorting through a bunch of stories about celebrities limiting themselves to four-minute cold showers for the cause (yeah, right), I stumbled across a water bottle that featured an alarm that lets you know when to drink more water. Neat. 
The first review, though: “SHOOK UR TELLING PEOPLE TO DRINK MORE WATER WHEN WE’RE IN A DROUGHT!!!” Maybe she didn’t get the “you need water to survive” memo.
I imagined this one-star reviewer bravely <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-can-the-average/">lasting a whole week</a> without water and then rage-posting about it as a bunch of California almonds sipped on industrial irrigation like they were “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyClarksonShow/videos/paris-hilton-has-a-new-catchphrase-sliving/391199371883834/">sliving</a>” like Paris Hilton on an inflatable swan at a swim club. No wonder she was making no sense and was irrationally mad at the world. She needed more water!
So, how much water should you really drink? The eight-glasses-a-day rule was good while it lasted, but it doesn’t work for everyone. General guidelines suggest somewhere <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/how-much-water-should-you-drink">between six</a> to <a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/special/contributor-content/2026/02/26/drink-8-glasses-a-day-use-a-science-based-online-tool-for-your-hydration-number/88889245007/">15 cups</a> (or <a href="https://www.dollartimes.com/calculate/volume/cups/ounces/15">120 ounces</a>) a day, but it all comes down to your body and your lifestyle. Even your local weather forecast plays into it.
As a rule of thumb, well-hydrated pee should look pale yellow (more like <a href="https://thecookingfoodie.com/recipe/how-to-make-homemade-lemonade/">lemonade</a>, not <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPesz3Iitnd/">Michelob Ultra</a>). Men commonly need <a href="https://www.waterh.com/blogs/news/men-vs-women-who-needs-more-water-for-optimal-hydration?srsltid=AfmBOoq8YZ4vstBEPYckedYJgxsRWTfttRLJ3Kn-zIZ9Y6ALBrxaqeMT">more water than women</a>, active people require more hydration than the sedentary set, and anyone living in a hot climate should probably be hitting the LaCroix harder than those in cooler places. But a <a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/dehydration/hydration-calculator/">hydration calculator</a> can give you the most personal results.
If you’re still questioning the transformative powers of hydration, the 1980s water fountain scene in “<a href="https://youtu.be/JReGHQyfk1A?t=5">The Secret of My Success</a>” proves that even a little sip turns anyone into Princess Diana. Or something. (I didn’t see the rest of the movie.)
Tragically, sitting in a hot tub does nothing to hydrate you. Your skin might feel more lubricated, but your body’s largest organ is actually designed to keep moisture in and <a href="https://sedermatologyspecialists.com/what-does-water-really-do-for-the-skin/#:~:text=In%20the%20skin%2C%20water%20is,ourselves%20and%20the%20outside%20world.">external liquids</a> out. In fact, long showers and <a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/swimming-can-put-you-at-a-higher-risk-of-dehydration-heres-why/291-7635ea66-5e94-48b6-9885-f9ac7107e286">pool days</a> actually cause your body temperature to dysregulate and your body to sweat and lose even more water. To get the maximum benefit, water’s gotta get into your <a href="https://www.jantzen.com.my/does-showering-hydrate-your-skin/">bloodstream</a>. And that means you have to drink it.
As far as the best water goes, it’s all fair game. Standard water has proven to lessen symptoms of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6147771/">depression and anxiety</a> on the daily. And electrolyte-boosted water, such as unsweetened <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/coconut-water/faq-20207812">coconut water</a>, can help <a href="https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2023/09/hydration-are-electrolyte-drinks-better-water">replace sodium</a> lost through prolonged sweating, workouts, or illness. That <a href="https://www.bevnet.com/pr/2026/04/15/chlorophyll-water-breaks-into-rangemes-top-10-food-and-beverage-brands-list">Chlorophyll Water</a> blowing up TikTok Shop for its <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chlorophyll-water#benefits">antioxidant</a> properties might not yet be a verified <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-the-benefits-of-drinking-chlorophyll-6-things-to-know.h00-159460056.html">cure for cancer</a>, but it’s fire for hydration. And, yes, you can make your own <a href="https://smarterfitter.com/32-natural-ways-to-flavor-water/#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20ways%20to%20naturally%20flavor,Add%20a%20few%20dashes%20to%20ice%20water">natural flavored water</a> by infusing a jug with lemongrass and ginger, strawberries and mint, or pomegranate seeds.
If part of your soul just died thinking about staring down a bottomless glass of Fiji Water all day, you can get your daily H2O from food, too. Veggies such as <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/15-food-that-help-you-stay-hydrated#:~:text=Cucumbers%20have%20the%20highest%20water,choose%20to%20eat%20cooked%20asparagus.">cucumbers</a>, celery, zucchini, and asparagus all contain at least 92% water, and <a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/dehydration/hydration-calculator/">kombucha</a>, tea, and coffee count, too.
Of course, any water tastes better in a reusable bottle. Once you find the right one, sneak your water past airport security by <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-get-water-through-tsa-airport-security-11718652">freezing it</a> prior to boarding. Be it reverse osmosis water from home or a $1,000 bottle of <a href="https://fine-liquids.com/en-us/products/fillico-2-generation?srsltid=AfmBOoqMF4MuLBjkqriTXodTr742bYxlI5XOpnEXyoGuFV1tJrSX0gbq">Fillico Jewelry Water</a>, as long as it’s a solid block of ice, you can join the mile highdrated club at 35,000 feet and stick the landing while enjoying your happiest mood ever.

Feeling Angry, Tired, And On Edge? The Real Reason Might Not Be What You Think

hydration

Upstream

water

water bottle

US-ENVIROMENT-SEWAGE-POTOMAC

DEI Disaster: Washington D.C. Is Now Literally Flooded With Poop

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Maryland

Matt Walsh

Opinion

potomac river

Washington D.C.

Iran is confronting an escalating environmental crisis so severe that President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced the country must <a href="https://www.iranintl.com/en/202511209098">move its capital,</a> declaring that the regime “no longer has a choice.”
Tehran, once the political and demographic heart of Iran, is now overwhelmed by water depletion, collapsing land, and infrastructural strain. Pezeshkian warned that parts of the capital are sinking by up to 30 centimeters a year, calling it a “catastrophe” driven by decades of mismanagement, overbuilding in upstream regions, and disrupted downstream flows. With water resources no longer matching demand, he argued that continued population or construction growth in Tehran is impossible and that remaining in place means “signing our own destruction.”
The Iranian regime is studying relocation to the Makran coast, despite the area’s underdevelopment, security concerns, and financial burden — costs so immense that previous efforts since the 1979 revolution have repeatedly stalled. Nevertheless, Pezeshkian said Iran has reached the point where relocation has become “an obligation.”
This dramatic moment stands in stark contrast to Israel’s successful campaign to overcome its own longstanding water scarcity, transforming from a drought-prone nation into a global leader in water security. Israel built a national system anchored in large-scale reverse-osmosis desalination plants, which now provide most of the country’s drinking water. The country also recycles nearly 90% of its wastewater — the highest rate in the world —largely supporting agriculture and preserving natural freshwater sources. Israeli-developed drip irrigation technology allows precise water delivery and enables high crop yields even in arid zones, while a centralized national water grid efficiently moves water to where it is needed, stabilizing supplies in dry years.
Israel’s technological capabilities were on full display in 2025, when it launched an <a href="https://x.com/InbarCohen13/status/1990408176290701356">unprecedented project</a> to pump desalinated Mediterranean seawater into the Sea of Galilee, restoring the stressed lake’s water levels and even reviving dried-out streams such as the Tsalmon. This initiative not only protects one of Israel’s most important freshwater reservoirs but also illustrates the country’s ability to reverse ecological decline through engineering and long-term planning.
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Against this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last July extended an extraordinary public offer directly to the Iranian people. Citing Iran’s severe drought — affecting 96% of the country — and warnings that up to 50 million Iranians could ultimately be displaced, Netanyahu said Iranians were victims of a regime that had squandered and mismanaged vital resources. He highlighted Israel’s breakthroughs in desalination, wastewater recycling, and agricultural efficiency, offering to share these methods by launching a Farsi-language website that would teach Iranians how to recycle water and preserve crops. Netanyahu framed the offer as humanitarian rather than political: “The Iranian regime shouts ‘Death to Israel.’ In response, Israel shouts, ‘Life to the Iranian people.’”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Islamic Republic 🇮🇷 has led Iran to the worst water shortage crisis in its history.
As prime minister <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@netanyahu</a> said, Israel 🇮🇱 is one of the world leaders in water desalination, and is willing to share its technology for the benefit of Iranians 👇 <a href="https://t.co/6R5pX5N4e9">pic.twitter.com/6R5pX5N4e9</a>
&mdash; Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrEliDavid/status/1949224206849495442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As Iran contemplates relocating its capital to escape a deepening ecological disaster, Israel demonstrates how strategic planning, innovation, and responsible governance can transform water scarcity into long-term resilience — and even offer help to a nation in crisis.

Rain prayer held in Tehran, which has suffered its worst drought in 60 years

Iranian Regime Faces Water-Driven Capital Relocation As Israel Showcases Water-Conquering Innovation

Iran

Israel

Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis made Florida the second state to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-becomes-second-state-ban-fluoride-public-water-rcna205127">ban fluoride</a> in public water, following Utah, which banned it earlier this month.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed <a href="https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/700/?Tab=BillHistory">SB 700</a>, which prohibits “the use of certain additives in a water system which do not meet specified requirements.” The law goes into effect July 1.
“There&#8217;s risks associated for pregnant women, for young people, for kids,” DeSantis <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM_PLtZJ08I">said</a> as he signed the bill. “Yes, use fluoride for your teeth, that&#8217;s fine, but forcing it into the water supply is basically forced medication on people. They don&#8217;t have a choice; you&#8217;re taking that away from them.”
“It raises a larger issue,” he continued. “I think we saw a lot of this with COVID, that we had to fight back against. They had certain views: you should wear a mask when you&#8217;re outside in 95-degree temperatures, (no, thank you) but that&#8217;s what they were saying, that kids should get a COVID mRNA shot even though we still don&#8217;t have data to this day to justify doing that.”
“They tried to push a lot of policies on people,” he recalled. “I think some of these people think that they know better for you than you do for yourself. They think because they have medical training or they have this that they should just be able to decree how we live our lives. That proved disastrous during COVID. A lot of the things they were advocating not only didn&#8217;t work, they caused a lot of harm.  &#8230; When we made sure that the schools were open, I got sued by the teachers’ union, saying ‘close the schools’ &#8230; Fauci was saying, ‘This is irresponsible.’ &#8230; They had these kids locked out for a year to a year-and-a-half &#8230; so we fought back against it.”
“I think fluoride is a good example because what they&#8217;re basically saying is that they&#8217;re ignoring any studies that have shown that there could be issues,” he contended. “They say. ‘Well, it&#8217;s good for your teeth so we should just force it.’”
“And you shouldn&#8217;t have a choice in that?” he asked incredulously. “We certainly now in our society in 2025 have the ability to deliver fluoride through toothpaste and all these other things. You don&#8217;t get to force it and take away people&#8217;s choices. The whole crux of the issue is you should be able to make decisions on the basis of informed consent.”
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Utah banned fluoride in public water in 2023. Utah banned it in May of 2025.

Governor DeSantis And ICE Announce Largest Joint Immigration Enforcement Operation In Florida History

‘It Raises Larger Issues’: DeSantis Bans Fluoride In Florida Water

Florida

Fluoride

Ron DeSantis

Social Issues

U.S.

On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an <a href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-outlines-enforcement-measures-help-prevent-cybersecurity-attacks-and-protect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enforcement alert</a> warning of cyberattacks on community drinking water systems across the nation.
The EPA stated that its inspections found that over 70% of water systems did not “fully comply with requirements in the Safe Drinking Water Act and that some of those systems have critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities.” The EPA noted that default passwords have not been updated and single logins being used leave the systems vulnerable. It also suggested system operators reduce exposure to public-facing internet, conduct regular cybersecurity assessments, change default passwords immediately, and conduct an inventory of OT/IT assets, among other tasks.
“In many cases, systems are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is to have completed a risk assessment of their vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity and to make sure that plan is available and informing the way they do business,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/water-utilities-cyberattack-epa-russia-1435b3e6a569aa046e05c7947f0a0f3d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported.</a>
McCabe said China, Russia and Iran are “actively seeking the capability to disable U.S. critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater.”
In May 2023, Microsoft <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/24/volt-typhoon-targets-us-critical-infrastructure-with-living-off-the-land-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that state-backed Chinese hackers called Volt Typhoon were targeting infrastructure systems in the United States. Those attempts included drinking water, AP noted.  In November 2023, The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa said one of their booster stations had been hacked by a cyber-group calling itself Cyber Av3ngers that was backed by Iran.
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Last month, a Russian hacktivist group hacked into a Texas town’s water system.  “There were 37,000 attempts in four days to log into our firewall,” said Mike Cypert, city manager of Hale Center.
“By working behind the scenes with these hacktivist groups, now these (nation states) have plausible deniability and they can let these groups carry out destructive attacks. And that to me is a game-changer,” Dawn Cappelli, a cybersecurity expert, stated.
“In an ideal world &#8230; we would like everybody to have a baseline level of cybersecurity and be able to confirm that they have that,” Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, said. “But that’s a long ways away.”

Pumps and piping transport water to and from a General Elect

EPA Warns Of Cyberattacks On Nation’s Drinking Water Systems

China

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Global Politics

Hackers

Russia

If you’re drinking water directly from the tap, there’s a chance it contains potentially harmful “forever chemicals,” according to a study <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/tap-water-study-detects-pfas-forever-chemicals-across-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> Wednesday by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 
The study found that 45% of the tap water in the United States likely contains at least one “forever chemical,” also known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). The chemicals are believed to possibly cause numerous health problems in humans, including increased cancer risk, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per</a> the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
&#8220;USGS scientists tested water collected directly from people’s kitchen sinks across the nation, providing the most comprehensive study to date on PFAS in tap water from both private wells and public supplies,” Kelly Smalling, USGS research hydrologist and lead author of the study, said.
“The study estimates that at least one type of PFAS — of those that were monitored — could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the U.S. Furthermore, PFAS concentrations were similar between public supplies and private wells,” Smalling added. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
At least 45% of the nation’s tap water could have one or more types of the chemicals known as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PFAS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PFAS</a>, according to a new USGS study. This study is the first to analyze PFAS in tap water from both private and public supplies broadly throughout the US. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/water?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#water</a> <a href="https://t.co/S2WteG9R26">https://t.co/S2WteG9R26</a> <a href="https://t.co/zz85IqZwni">pic.twitter.com/zz85IqZwni</a>
&mdash; USGS (@USGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/USGS/status/1676667327532912641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The USGS explains that forever chemicals are synthetic and used in various everyday items, including nonstick pots and pans and fast food box linings. Other products that can contain PFAS include shampoo, nail polish, candy wrappers, pizza boxes, and microwave popcorn bags, <a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/exposure.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the CDC. Even products for babies are not immune from forever chemicals — they have been detected in clothing, toys, and bedding, the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11390811/Toxic-forever-chemicals-childrens-clothes-bedding.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>.  
Of the more than 12,000 different types of PFAS, the USGS only monitored 32 because many forever chemicals cannot be detected with tests available today, the government agency explained. They are referred to as “forever chemicals” because of the prolonged period of time they take to break down. 
As for the most commonly found forever chemicals detected, the USGS says PFOs, PFBS, PFHxS, and PFOA appeared regularly. 
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Americans who live in urban areas are more likely to encounter PFAS in drinking water, the study says. PFAS exposure was higher in the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, Central and Southern California, and the Eastern Seaboard. During the research, which the USGS says is the first study of its kind, tap water samples were tested at 716 locations “representing a range of low, medium and high human-impacted areas.” 
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, forever chemicals “<a href="https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may lead to</a>” decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, behavioral changes, accelerated puberty, hormonal interference, decreased immune response, and increased risk of obesity, among other potential health effects. 
“PFAS can get into drinking water when products or wastes containing them are disposed of, used or spilled onto the ground or into lakes and rivers,” the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/faq/categories/pfas-101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> notes. “PFAS move easily through the ground, getting into groundwater that is used for some water supplies or for private drinking water wells.”

Tap Water Glass

Nearly Half Of U.S. Tap Water Contains ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Government Study Finds

Chemicals

General

Health

Bud Light is even cheaper than water, at least at one Pennsylvania store.
The beer brand and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, have been stuck in a public relations nightmare since it struck an endorsement deal with Dylan Mulvaney, a flamboyant trans influencer who claims to be a woman. Mulvaney <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqgTftujqZc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=be47ac0a-7017-4d6d-a424-8dcf6d27a837" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVGDPlG42bU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> to his 1.8 million Instagram followers April 1, and sales of Bud Light promptly cratered.
“This month I celebrated my day 365 of womanhood, and Bud Light sent me possibly the best gift ever, a can with my face on it,” Mulvaney said.
After beer drinkers abandoned Bud Light in droves, the company put two of the marketing execs behind the ill-advised idea on ice. But sales have not rebounded, even with prices marked down.
“At this point, it’s cheaper than some of the cases of water we’re selling in the back,” Andy Wagner, the manager of Glenn Miller’s Beer &amp; Soda Warehouse in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, told the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/business/bud-light-sales.html?searchResultPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Times</a>. “It’s just not moving like it used to.”
“It’s not that they stopped drinking beer,” he continued. “They just stopped buying Bud Light.”  He said Anheuser-Busch broke “bar rules,&#8221; which means “no politics, no religion.”
Bud Light was the best-selling beer in the United States for over 20 years. In 2022, its sales surpassed $5 billion, but it has now been surpassed by Modelo Especial. In the four weeks ending in mid-June, Bud Light sales plummeted an average of 29 percent from the same period in 2022, according to the consulting firm Bump Williams. Since early April, Anheuser-Busch’s stock has plunged over 15%.
The CEO of Bud Light&#8217;s parent company still wouldn’t admit putting Mulvaney&#8217;s picture on a can of beer was a mistake, despite the enormous backlash. Brendan Whitworth, a Marine Corps veteran and ex-CIA employee, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anheuser-busch-ceo-asked-if-hed-send-can-to-mulvaney-again-he-refuses-to-answer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appeared on CBS</a> “This Morning,” where he called the backlash “divisive.”
“I think the conversation surrounding Bud Light has moved away from beer and the conversation has become divisive,” Whitworth said. “Bud Light really doesn’t belong there; Bud Light should be about bringing people together.”
Asked what the intention of the company was in sending Mulvaney the can of beer emblazoned with his picture, Whitworth reiterated the company’s statement from early May, declaring, “It was a gift and it was one can.”
Co-host Tony Dokoupil asked, “Knowing what you know now, if you go back, would you send a can to this one person again?”
“There’s a big social conversation taking place right now and big brands are right in the middle of it,” Whitworth replied. “And it’s not just our industry or Bud Light. It’s happening in retail, it’s happening in fast food. And so, for us, what we need to understand is — deeply understand and appreciate — is the consumer, and what they want, what they care about, and what they expect from big brands.”
“Where are you on the issue? Was this a mistake?” Dokoupil pressed.
Again, Whitworth ducked the question.
“Bud Light has supported LGBTQ since 1998, so that’s 25 years,” he said. “And as we’ve said from the beginning, we’ll continue to support the communities and organizations that we’ve supported for decades. But as we move forward, we want to focus on what we do best, which is brewing great beer for everyone, listening to our consumers, being humble in listening to them, making sure we do right by our employees, take care and support our partners, and ultimately make an impact in the communities that we serve.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anheuser-busch-ceo-asked-if-hed-send-can-to-mulvaney-again-he-refuses-to-answer">Anheuser-Busch CEO Asked If He’d Send Can To Mulvaney Again. He Refuses To Answer.</a>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-single-can-anheuser-busch-sends-letter-to-minimize-disastrous-mulvaney-backlash">‘One Single Can’: Anheuser-Busch Sends Letter To Minimize Disastrous Mulvaney Backlash</a>

Collage Maker-05-Jul-2023-10-16-AM-5834

Bud Light Now Cheaper Than Water Following Dylan Mulvaney Debacle

Anheuser-Busch

Bud Light

Officials in Philadelphia are encouraging locals against drinking tap water following a chemical spill in nearby Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia Water Department said it is monitoring the release of a latex product along a Delaware River tributary in Bristol Township late on Friday. Authorities sent out a public safety alert on Sunday afternoon saying the city of Philadelphia <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/philly-officials-residents-may-not-wish-to-drink-or-cook-with-tap-water-following-bucks-county-chemical-spill/3532493/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_PHBrand">recommends</a> bottled drinking water from 2 p.m. until further notice.
As of late Sunday morning, local authorities said the contaminants had not been found in the water system and offered assurances that they have no concern over skin exposure or fire hazard.
&#8220;Bathing and washing dishes do not present a concern. Likewise, we have no concern over inhaling fumes at the levels we are evaluating,&#8221; <a href="https://water.phila.gov/drops/phila-water-dept-monitoring-spill-at-bucks-county-facility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said Michael Carroll</a>, deputy managing director for Philadelphia&#8217;s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability.
Still, officials are encouraging the use of bottled water as a precaution.
&#8220;Because we cannot be 100 percent sure that there won’t be traces of these chemicals in the tap water throughout the afternoon, we want the public to be aware so that people can consider switching to bottled water to further minimize any risk,&#8221; Carroll said. &#8220;Therefore, we are notifying the public in the customer service area that they may wish not to drink or cook with tap water.&#8221;
Within a couple of hours, posts to social media showed store shelves wiped clean of bottled water.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NO bottles of water left right now at Giant, after <a href="https://twitter.com/PhiladelphiaGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhiladelphiaGov</a> said it is recommending residents use bottled water for drinking or cooking until further notice. More than 8,000 gallons of hazardous material spilled in a Bucks County creek near the Delaware River <a href="https://twitter.com/6abc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@6abc</a> <a href="https://t.co/uGiTM4xN4J">pic.twitter.com/uGiTM4xN4J</a>
&mdash; Christie Ileto (@Christie_Ileto) <a href="https://twitter.com/Christie_Ileto/status/1640054433785446400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Officials blame a pipe rupture at a chemical plant, Trinseo PLC, for the release of an estimated 8,100 to 12,000 gallons of latex finishing material, a water-soluble acrylic polymer solution, into Otter Creek, which runs into the Delaware River, <a href="https://6abc.com/coast-guard-us-environmental-protection-agency-pennsylvania-department-of-fish-and-boat-commission/13014583/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to ABC affiliate WPVI</a>.
The report said crews are now working to clean up the spill and, so far, there are no indications of affected wildlife as there were following last month&#8217;s hazardous materials release with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cruz-ridicules-buttigieg-at-train-derailment-hearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norfolk Southern train derailment</a> in East Palestine, Ohio, not far from Pennsylvania&#8217;s western border.
&#8220;We are working with the responsible party and local and federal agencies to ensure a safe response effort,&#8221; said Capt. Jonathan Theel, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/officials-urge-philadelphians-not-to-drink-tap-water/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per CBS News</a>. &#8220;We are also working with our State counterparts in Pennsylvania.&#8221;
The Philadelphia Water Department shared a link to a map showing the eastern part of the city of nearly 1.6 million people next to the Delaware River is <a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2c870b2f75684e57a0efde493444f7db" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;potentially impacted&#8221;</a> by chemical spill while the eastern portion is shown as not impacted.

Daily Life in Philadelphia, PA

Philly Residents Urged Not To Drink Tap Water After Chemical Spill

Environment

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Mankind’s hope for survival depends on the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a>’ efforts to find new ways to manage the world’s water supply, according to U.N. Secretary-General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/world-leaders-gather-to-condemn-fossil-fuel-addiction-as-planet-faces-energy-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antonio Guterres</a>. 
Guterres joined leaders from developing countries at a conference on global water resources earlier this week, warning nations about water shortages and sanitation and advocating for &#8220;a new course&#8221; of action. 
“All of humanity’s hopes for the future depend, in some way, on charting a new course to sustainably manage and conserve water,” Guterres said in his final remarks for the conference on Friday, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nation-world-water-c69420149134954e6648531425cc0637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press. The U.N. chief added that water “needs to be at the center of the global political agenda.”
Prior to the conference, Guterres <a href="https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a> that this year’s gathering, which was hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands, “must result in a bold Water Action Agenda that gives our world&#8217;s lifeblood the commitment it deserves.”
The U.N. is pushing for universal access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030, a goal it calls “SDG6.” The U.N. blames climate change and underinvestment in water for the water problems faced by poorer countries. 
To push for more control of the world’s water systems, SDG6 <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/#:~:text=Goal%206%3A%20Ensure%20access%20to,in%202030%20unless%20progress%20quadruples.">outlines</a> six targets for the world to hit by 2030, the last of which seeks to “expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programs, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.” 
A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsGrGx5rywk&amp;t=12s">video</a> on the U.N.’s 2023 Water Conference website says that “water can be the driver for a green economy, water is essential for food security, water is fundamental to climate resilience, and water can be the dealmaker for peace.” 
“Humanity’s demand for water is growing,” the video continues. “Pressure on water resources is increasing due to overuse, pollution, and climate change. On average, the world needs to work 4x faster to achieve SDG6 by 2030. We can and must do more. We must unite for water.” 
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The 2023 U.N. water conference was a huge success, <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1135022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Li Junhua, who formerly worked in China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and is now the U.N.’s under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs.
“At the 2023 UN Water Conference, a determined global community came together to make a difference not only for the future of water but for the future of the world,” Li said.

Antonio Guterres

U.N. Chief Says Humanity’s Survival Depends On ‘Charting New Course’ To Control One Vital Resource

U.N. Chief Says Humanity's Survival Depends On 'Charting New Course' To Control The World's Water

Climate Change

United Nations

World

Federal officials said an adult in Florida died last month from contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba after rinsing their sinuses with unboiled tap water, marking the case as the first death of its kind in the United States this year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told<a href="https://www.fox4now.com/charlotte-county/is-charlotte-countys-tap-water-safe-following-report-of-amoeba-infection"> local media</a> that the patient died on February 20 from an extremely rare disease caused by Naegleria fowleri, which infects people when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose.
&#8220;The adult patient reportedly performed nasal rinsing daily with unboiled tap water, which is thought to be the source of the infection,&#8221; a spokesperson from the CDC said.
CDC officials did not disclose the identity of the deceased.
In a <a href="https://charlotte.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2023/02/02-23-2023PressReleaseNaegleriaFowleri.html">February 23 news release</a>, Florida Department of Health officials confirmed that Charlotte County had recently documented one case of someone infected with Naegleria fowleri &#8220;possibly as a result of sinus rinse practices utilizing tap water.&#8221;
&#8220;DOH-Charlotte, as part of a multi-agency response, is continuing to investigate how this infection occurred and is working with the local public utilities to identify any potential links and make any necessary corrective actions,&#8221; Meranda Pitt, a spokesperson for the department, said in the statement.
Pitt emphasized residents cannot get infected with the amoeba by drinking tap water.
Eric Milbrandt, director of the marine laboratory at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, told local media the amoeba could only affect people through the nose, not by ingesting it.
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&#8220;A proper, municipal treatment plant would have filtration, chlorination, and testing,&#8221; Milbrandt said. &#8220;So your drinking water should be fine.&#8221;
Joe Pepe, health officer for Charlotte County, told local media the patient was a male who lived in two separate houses in the area but would not disclose any further specifics about the case.
&#8220;What we&#8217;re working on right now is a good investigation so that we can identify a point source, but we saw an opportunity to lean forward and being responsible and just kind of helping educate the community on this piece of it at the very least,&#8221; Pepe said.
According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/general.html">CDC</a>, the amoeba typically thrives in warm freshwater like lakes, rivers, and hot springs around the world.
If water containing the amoeba goes up the nose, the amoeba can enter the brain and cause a devastating infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, officials said.
&#8220;In very rare instances, Naegleria fowleri infections might also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or contaminated tap water) enters the nose,&#8221; the spokesperson added. &#8220;People who irrigate, flush, or rinse their sinuses should use distilled water or tap water that has been boiled and cooled.&#8221;
Over the past decade, CDC officials have reported 29 cases in the U.S., with up to 5 cases reported annually, most occurring in southern-tier states during the summer.
The latest case, however, marks the first-ever reported in winter months in the United States.

Amebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri

Brain-Eating Amoeba From Unboiled Tap Water Kills Florida Man

Regional <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/food" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supermarket</a> chain Giant Eagle pulled bottled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/drinking-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water</a> sourced from a facility near East Palestine, Ohio, the location of a <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/ohio-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">train derailment</a> and subsequent <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/chemicals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chemical</a> fallout.
Local and state authorities previously evacuated all residents within one mile of the February 3 derailment and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-ordered-ohio-governor-warns-major-explosion-could-send-shrapnel-a-mile-from-derailed-train" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> a controlled burn of industrial chemicals on the Norfolk Southern train to decrease the risk of an explosion, which could have sent shrapnel throughout the small town. Vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic compound, was emitted from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Giant Eagle, which is based in Pittsburgh and has stores throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland, said that the company sources water for large containers from a factory in Salineville, Ohio, about 25 miles southwest of the train derailment.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” the company said in a <a href="https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/east-palestine-train-derailment/giant-eagle-removes-some-bottled-water-after-train-derailment/?ipid=promo-link-block1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> provided to WKBN, “Giant Eagle has made the decision to remove all gallon-size-or-greater Giant Eagle brand spring water product sourced from the Salineville facility from our store shelves until further notice while we continue to evaluate ongoing testing and potential impacts to the spring source.”
The announcement comes after utilities in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky shuttered Ohio River water intake valves early Sunday morning over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cincinnati-and-northern-kentucky-shut-down-water-intakes-after-train-derailment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concerns</a> about contamination from materials in the train crash. Beyond the release of vinyl chloride, Norfolk Southern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/company-responsible-for-ohio-train-derailment-issues-list-of-cancer-causing-substances-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> the EPA that a number of other volatile chemicals, including ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ethylhexyl acrylate, were present at the derailment site. The EPA published the full list of substances present at the site only after residents were told they could return to their homes.
Regular tests of the Salineville spring by a third party laboratory have not found evidence that the source was contaminated by the incident. “Giant Eagle has been in daily contact with representatives from the facility and has learned that the water used in these products comes from a protected spring located at a higher elevation than East Palestine and is not near ground water sources directly impacted by the incident,” the statement continued.
One spokesperson for the company <a href="https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/02/22/how-identify-if-you-have-giant-eagle-brand-water-spring-columbiana-county-made-after-train-derailment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> WOIO that customers can receive compensation for gallon-size or larger containers with a best-by date after February 3, 2025. “We understand that some guests may prefer to return previously purchased gallon-size Giant Eagle spring water,” the spokesperson added. “Interested guests are invited to bring in either the product itself or a qualifying receipt to their local Giant Eagle, Market District or GetGo location to receive a refund on the purchased product.”
State and federal officials have said extensive air and water quality tests have not yet raised evidence of contamination. A team of Daily Wire journalists and producers who visited East Palestine last week nevertheless <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/my-eyes-sting-and-my-head-is-throbbing-daily-wire-team-details-experiences-at-ground-zero-of-ohio-train-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> a lingering smell in the air, an oily chemical sheen in local creeks and rivers, and symptoms such as sore throats and headaches garnered merely by spending an extended period of time in the small community. Residents and first responders have meanwhile <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/it-was-like-the-devil-was-dancing-and-having-a-party-east-palestine-resident-describes-witnessing-train-derailment-turned-chemical-catastrophe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> worries about health symptoms such as coughing, diarrhea, and nausea, as well as deaths among wildlife and livestock.
The EPA ordered Norfolk Southern last week to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/epa-orders-norfolk-southern-to-handle-all-ohio-train-derailment-cleanup-pay-triple-if-they-cut-corners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">manage</a> the cleanup of the toxic chemical spill. The agency also threatened to “immediately step in, conduct the necessary work, and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost” if the company fails to adequately complete enumerated cleanup actions.

Bottling plant

Prominent Grocery Store Chain Pulls Water Bottles Sourced Near East Palestine Train Disaster

Giant Eagle Pulls Water Bottles Sourced Near East Palestine

Business

Disasters

Ohio Train Disaster

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