In Congress: Groundwater legislation

Since the mid‐1970s, groundwater quality has been one of the major concerns of water resource problems in the U.S. Over 50% of this country's drinking water is provided by groundwater; the amount is nearly 100% in rural America. Groundwater also provides about 40% of our irrigation needs. James L. Oberstar (D‐MN) said recently that “groundwater has been contaminated by landfills, waste disposal sites, and many other sources, [and] more and more, by pesticides.” People are asking if there are health hazards.