Butterfield, whose research addresses water-quality issues in the rural West, testified that her findings show a significant number of rural children in a six-year study tested positive for at least one water risk. Risks included E. coli, excessive levels of nitrates and arsenic, and coliform bacteria.
Butterfield’s work also extends to assisting rural families in repairing contaminated water systems with low- or no-cost options when possible.
Butterfield’s testimony provided a voice to the rural families in the study.
“Families want to know that government employees are looking out on their behalf,” she said. “They want to know that the contaminants that are dumped into their watershed are being monitored.”
The dean, testifying on behalf of the American Nurses Association, was one of several who spoke on the 37th anniversary of the passing of the Clean Water Act. Testimonies also came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Government Accountability Office and others.
The goal of the hearing was to examine issues surrounding the act and how stronger enforcement could protect citizens from environmental risks in water. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently committed to improving compliance and enforcement of the Clean Water Act, as well as improving EPA transparency and upgrading EPA information systems.
