The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "water safety" ...
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Poison in the Water
“Poison in the Water” is a WNCN investigation that exposes how state government failed to warn families that the water they were drinking could be killing them. Through six weeks of research and digging through hundreds of FOIA documents, WNCN uncovered the source of the contamination in a Wake Forest, N.C. community and revealed state regulators ignored their own evidence of the danger. “Poison in the Water” held the powerful accountable and sparked calls for state legislative change. As a result, national groundwater advocate, Erin Brockovich, visited the Wake Forest families.
Tags: water safety; government; water contamination; groundwater
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Camp Lejeune: Deadly Waters
Marines at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina had been exposed to toxic drinking and bathing water for 30 years despite warnings from outside contractors. When people began raising questions about the contaminated water, base officials ignored them.
Tags: toxic; contaminated; water safety; marines; chemicals
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Rohingya: A Forgotten People
This investigation reveals abuse committed by the Thai Military against Rohingya minorities fleeing from Burma. The Thai Military would intercept Rohingya boats with refugees aboard and tow them out to the middle of the sea and leave them without adequate supplies. Being without food and water many of the Rohingya refugees died, but the numbers are unclear as to how many people actually died.
Tags: Thailand; Myanmar; ocean; islands; human rights; Prime Minister; Abhisit Vejjajiva; boatpeople; Muslim; safety; persecution
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What's Wrong with the Hydrant?
In the investigation, it was revealed that “hundreds of fire hydrants” were not meeting minimum standards for water flow. This prevents firefighters from adequately fighting a fire and requires more time to extinguish a fire. Further, the investigation revealed a number of problems including a water system “looking like clogged arteries, firefighters struggling in aging rural communities”, and lower costs were more important than finding a solution.
Tags: fire chief; fire department; safety; housing; US Fire Administration; water supply; fire victim
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"State 7th in U.S. in boat mishaps accidents"
Arizona has one of the highest boating accident rates in the country. It is also one of the only states to not have boater education laws or require boat operators to take any type of education course before going out on the water. The National Transportation Safety Board has been urging Arizona to create and enforce such safety laws to decrease the number of accidents.
Tags: National Transportation Safety Board; boating accidents; personal watercraft; Arizona State Parks Department; Sen. Linda Gray; Game and Fish
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EPA Fails to Inform Public About Weed-Killer in Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency kept secret the high level of the herbicide atrazine found in the water supply of communities in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kansas. Residents were not alerted and were actually given false water readings from state and local authorities.
Tags: atrazine; environmental protection agency; watershed; water; herbicide; weed-killer; Huffington Post Investigative Fund; drinking; safety; public; health;
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Water Worries
"This four part series found serious flaws in management of the Madison Water Utility and, as a result, troubling problems with safety of the city's water supply. The series showed that the utility's response to the contaminant manganese in the tap water of many Madison homes and the potential health impacts of exposure to the mineral was late and inadequate."
Tags: water; magnese; industrial carcinogen; aging wells; pipes; Board of Water Commissioners; Madison Water Utility
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The Deadliness Below: Decades of Dumping Chemical Arms Leave a Risky Legacy
The Army secretly dumped at least 64 million pounds of chemical weapons off the coastlines of 11 states and 16 other countries, didn't tell anyone about it, and 20 years ago stopped checking the few sites that were ever inspected. The weapons are incredibly dangerous, likely are leaking, and will pose a threat for generations. The Army doesn't know where all the dumpsites are located, and admits that more likely exist than have been discovered.
Tags: chemicals; military; Armed Forces; government conspiracy; environment; water pollution; public safety; public health; chemical weapons; offshore dumping
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Troubled Waters
The authors investigated a dive company in Belize after one of its customers, Abigail Brinkman, died. They found questionable practices and a history of incidents. The company, Advance Dive, and dive master Vance Cabral were found to have put people's lives at risk for profit. On Dec 14, 2006, Belize's Licensing Committee announced their decision to refuse to renew Advance Diving Tours tour operator’s license for a period of 5 years.
Tags: Scuba diving; snorkeling; Belize; Abigail Brinkman; Vance Cabral; Advance Dive; water safety; tourism; tour operators
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Toxic Offender: Disastrous Sewage Plant Threatens Health
This series documents Twarowski's investigation into complaints of dangerous and unhealthy conditions inside the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Wantaugh, NY. Employees clandestinely videotaped horrendous conditions inside the plant and Twarowski later verified their findings in person. Each visit to the vast plant turned up more safety hazards.
Tags: Environment; pollution; waste treatment; sewage; hepatitis; viruses; public health; OSHA; Public Employee Safety and Health; Department of Environmental Conservation