The environmental health report card for Madison and Dane County was released Wednesday and showed that, in general, toxic air emissions have decreased but water utilities throughout the area are lacking.
This is the sixth edition of the report, but it is the first time environmental health information was combined from the both the city and the county.
In the report, several key findings were listed. One of the key findings was that toxic air emissions in the area dropped dramatically - nearly 700 tons in little over a decade - thanks in large part to local coalitions.
Another, more alarming, finding showed Dane County's 34 public water utilities need to be tested more frequently and vigorously for heavy metal and bacterial contamination. The report noted highly publicized, repeated problems with Madison's water utility.
And while the report overall was good for Dane County and Madison, Dr. Thomas Schlenker, the director of health for Madison and Dane County, said more could be done to make the report even better.
Dane County is blessed with abundant natural resources, but we must take care to protect them during this time of rapid growth,"" Shlenker said in a statement. ""I am impressed with the many dedicated citizens that have done so much to identify hazards and find solutions, particularly the mayor's working group on manganese in drinking water and the Dane County Clean Air Coalition.
