About the Movie
"Bad Water. Small Town. Deaf Ears..." is a documentary that examines the widespread contamination of drinking water due to the release of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into the environment.
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PFAS are fluorinated compounds that have been used in the manufacture of stain-, water- and heat-resistant products marketed around the world. This includes Teflon coated cookware, Scotchgard fabric protector, food wrappings and boxes, and fire-fighting foam used for training and emergency landings at military and commercial airfields.
Our goal in making this documentary is to show by example how residents in small communities, such as Hoosick Falls, NY, Merrimack, NH, and Oscoda and other sites in Michigan, have gained the capability needed to overcome the many obstacles that put their families at high risk.
We ask questions such as "what are the levels of toxicity in each member of the family," “what and where are the sources of contamination,” “how much is harmful,” “what remedies are possible, and what are the consequences,” “who applies and pays for the "fix,” and "what impact does filtration have on the value of homes and the ability to borrow on equity?"
The magnitude of the problem is just coming to light. Almost every American -- some 99.7 percent of all men, women and children -- have detectable levels of PFAS in their bloodstream. Release of PFAS into the environment began in the 1950s. Exposure to humans is by direct contact or ingestion of contaminated air, water, or foods such as fish. The amount of PFAS in the body is cumulative building up over the years. Victims are at high risk for illnesses that affect the liver, kidney, testes, and thyroid.
Once it is learned that a community's water source or private wells are contaminated, it may be up to the residents to find resolution. Local governments likely have no history or authority to rely on. The terminology is unfamiliar, testing procedures generally are out of date, and standards on which to make judgements vary from state to state. The Environmental Protection Agency says anything below 70 parts per trillion (ppt) is safe. But some researches and states cite 10 ppt or less as the threshold for safety.
Suing the manufacturer that caused the contamination is another problem since the current owner may not have been the polluter. If taken to court and it appears a large sum of money might be awarded in damages, the trial could prompt a company to shutter the plant leaving townspersons without employment. At the federal level, agencies that had been set up to protect the environment have had their budgets cut and their goals re-directed. Communities under 10,000 population have not on their radar screens.
WATCH THE MOVIE FREE
PFAS are fluorinated compounds that have been used in the manufacture of stain-, water- and heat-resistant products marketed around the world. This includes Teflon coated cookware, Scotchgard fabric protector, food wrappings and boxes, and fire-fighting foam used for training and emergency landings at military and commercial airfields.
Our goal in making this documentary is to show by example how residents in small communities, such as Hoosick Falls, NY, Merrimack, NH, and Oscoda and other sites in Michigan, have gained the capability needed to overcome the many obstacles that put their families at high risk.
We ask questions such as "what are the levels of toxicity in each member of the family," “what and where are the sources of contamination,” “how much is harmful,” “what remedies are possible, and what are the consequences,” “who applies and pays for the "fix,” and "what impact does filtration have on the value of homes and the ability to borrow on equity?"
The magnitude of the problem is just coming to light. Almost every American -- some 99.7 percent of all men, women and children -- have detectable levels of PFAS in their bloodstream. Release of PFAS into the environment began in the 1950s. Exposure to humans is by direct contact or ingestion of contaminated air, water, or foods such as fish. The amount of PFAS in the body is cumulative building up over the years. Victims are at high risk for illnesses that affect the liver, kidney, testes, and thyroid.
Once it is learned that a community's water source or private wells are contaminated, it may be up to the residents to find resolution. Local governments likely have no history or authority to rely on. The terminology is unfamiliar, testing procedures generally are out of date, and standards on which to make judgements vary from state to state. The Environmental Protection Agency says anything below 70 parts per trillion (ppt) is safe. But some researches and states cite 10 ppt or less as the threshold for safety.
Suing the manufacturer that caused the contamination is another problem since the current owner may not have been the polluter. If taken to court and it appears a large sum of money might be awarded in damages, the trial could prompt a company to shutter the plant leaving townspersons without employment. At the federal level, agencies that had been set up to protect the environment have had their budgets cut and their goals re-directed. Communities under 10,000 population have not on their radar screens.
