CLOSE TO HOME
Water woes(灾难) may seem remote to people living in rich countries like the United States. But Americans could face serious water shortages, too especially in areas that rely on groundwater. Groundwater accumulates in aquifers (地下蓄水层)，layers of sand and gravel that lie between soil and bedrock. (For every liter of surface water, more than 90 liters are hidden underground.) Although the United States has large aquifers, farmers, ranchers, and cities are tapping many of them for water faster than nature can replenish(补充) it. In northwest Texas, for example, overpumping has shrunk groundwater supplies by 25 percent, according to Postel.
Americans may face even more urgent problems from pollution. Drinking water in the United States is generally safe and meets high standards. Nevertheless, one in five Americans every day unknowingly drinks tap water contaminated with bacteria and chemical wastes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In Milwaukee, 400,000 people fell ill in 1993 after drinking tap water tainted with cryptosporidium (隐孢子虫)，a microbe (微生物) that causes fever, diarrhea (腹泻) and vomiting.
THE SOURCE
Where so contaminants come from? In developing countries, people dump raw (未经处理的) sewage(污水) into the same streams and rivers from which they draw water for drinking and cooking; about 250 million people a year get sick from water borne (饮水传染的) diseases.
In developed countries, manufacturers use 100,000 chemical compounds to make a wide range of products.Toxic chemicals pollute water when released untreated into rivers and lakes. (Certain compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (多氯化联二苯)，or PCBs, have been banned in the United States.)
But almost everyone contributes to water pollution. People often pour household cleaners, car antifreeze, and paint thinners (稀释剂) down the drain; all of these contain hazardous chemicals. Scientists studying water in the San Francisco Bay reported in 1996 that 70 percent of the pollutants could be traced to household waste.
Farmers have been criticized for overusing herbicides and pesticides, chemicals that kill weeds and insects but insects but that pollute water as well. Farmers also use nitrates, nitrogen--rich fertilizer that helps plants grow but that can wreak havoc (大破坏) on the environment. Nitrates are swept away by surface runoff to lakes and seas. Too many nitrates “overenrich” these bodies of water, encouraging the buildup of algae, or microscopic plants that live on the surface of the water. Algae deprive the water of oxygen that fish need to survive, at times choking off life in an entire body of water.

以下是我的全文翻译，~好。。。累。。。啊~

CLOSE TO HOME
“迫在眉睫”
Water woes(灾难) may seem remote to people living in rich countries like the United States. But Americans could face serious water shortages, too especially in areas that rely on groundwater. Groundwater accumulates in aquifers (地下蓄水层)，layers of sand and gravel that lie between soil and bedrock. (For every liter of surface water, more than 90 liters are hidden underground.) Although the United States has large aquifers, farmers, ranchers, and cities are tapping many of them for water faster than nature can replenish(补充) it. In northwest Texas, for example, overpumping has shrunk groundwater supplies by 25 percent, according to Postel.

水患在很多如美国一般发达国家的居民们看来，似乎是杞人忧天。但是现在，美国人可能就要面对严重的淡水短缺，尤其是那些居住在依赖地下水生存的地区的人。地下水积蓄在表面土层与底基岩石层之间的沙砾含水层里（地球表面水与地下水水量之比大约为1：90）虽然美国有丰富的地下水资源，但农牧场及城市人口使用率远远高于自然补水量。据《每日邮报》报道称，在北德州，过度开采已造成地下水总储量缩减25%.

Americans may face even more urgent problems from pollution. Drinking water in the United States is generally safe and meets high standards. Nevertheless, one in five Americans every day unknowingly drinks tap water contaminated with bacteria and chemical wastes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In Milwaukee, 400,000 people fell ill in 1993 after drinking tap water tainted with cryptosporidium (隐孢子虫)，a microbe (微生物) that causes fever, diarrhea (腹泻) and vomiting.

屋漏偏逢连夜雨，美国人还要面临来自水污染的威胁。美国全国饮用水是基本安全、高品质的。然而，根据美国国土环境安全局的监测显示，平均每五个美国公民中，就有一人无意识地饮用被细菌及化学药物污染的自来水。在密尔沃基市，约40万市民因饮用含有能够导致高烧、腹泻及呕吐的隐孢子虫的自来水而致病。


THE SOURCE
“怎么回事？”
Where so contaminants come from? In developing countries, people dump raw (未经处理的) sewage(污水) into the same streams and rivers from which they draw water for drinking and cooking; about 250 million people a year get sick from water borne (饮水传染的) diseases.
In developed countries, manufacturers use 100,000 chemical compounds to make a wide range of products.Toxic chemicals pollute water when released untreated into rivers and lakes. (Certain compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (多氯化联二苯)，or PCBs, have been banned in the United States.)
这么多的污染物是从哪里来的？在某些发展中国家，人们把未经处理的污水直接排放入被用作生活用水来源的湖泊和河流中。每年,约有两千五百万人口因饮用污染水源而生病。发达国家的工厂使用十万种以上的化学物质来生产各种物品。含有剧毒物质的生产污水在被释入河湖之前，均未经过检测及处理。一些如多氯化联二苯、PCB等药品在美国是被明令禁止的。

But almost everyone contributes to water pollution. People often pour household cleaners, car antifreeze, and paint thinners (稀释剂) down the drain; all of these contain hazardous chemicals. Scientists studying water in the San Francisco Bay reported in 1996 that 70 percent of the pollutants could be traced to household waste.
其实，几乎每个人都对水污染造成影响。生活中，人们把含有高危物质的家用洗洁剂、车辆防冻剂及油彩稀释剂直接倒入下水道。1996年，科学家在对旧金山湾水域进行研究后发现，百分之七十左右的污染源乃是家庭废物所致。

Farmers have been criticized for overusing herbicides and pesticides, chemicals that kill weeds and insects but insects but that pollute water as well. Farmers also use nitrates, nitrogen--rich fertilizer that helps plants grow but that can wreak havoc (大破坏) on the environment. Nitrates are swept away by surface runoff to lakes and seas. Too many nitrates “overenrich” these bodies of water, encouraging the buildup of algae, or microscopic plants that live on the surface of the water. Algae deprive the water of oxygen that fish need to survive, at times choking off life in an entire body of water.
众多批评中指出，农民使用了过多的杀虫剂和农药来去除杂草和害虫，这同时污染了水源。硝酸盐、富氮肥用以帮助农作物提高产量，但这也会对周边环境造成严重影响。从表层流失的硝酸盐被雨水冲进河湖中。过多的硝酸盐造成水体的“富养”状态，造成藻类及水生植物的疯长。水藻夺取鱼儿生存所需的氧气，造成整个水体中的生物窒息死亡

请各位指出其中不足补进之处，谢谢！