In 1972, the Clean Water Act was passed to regulate pollution discharged into U.S. waterways, and to set standards for surface water. The Act is supposed to ensure clean water for swimming and fishing in the U.S., but after more than four decades of regulation and oversight, waterways are in serious trouble.

As tap water is extracted from these waterways, it may test positive for a large assortment of chemicals, including fluoride, radiation, heavy metals, agricultural runoff and disinfection byproducts.

Unfortunately, that’s the short list. More than half of the 300−plus chemicals currently detected in U.S. drinking water are unregulated. Almost every year red flags are raised across the U.S. over toxic drinking water, triggered by varying reasons.

Fish and other wildlife also demonstrate the ramifications of out of control water pollution, and there’s cause to believe chemical pollution may be affecting human health as well.

The sources of pollution are many, ranging from agricultural runoff and industrial releases to outworn pipes, firefighting foam and pharmaceutical drugs, and even the chemicals used during water treatment.