One out of every six Americans in recent years has been exposed to contaminated drinking water, according to an investigation by The New York Times. A review of government records found numerous water districts throughout the United States have failed since 2004 to deliver safe tap water to more than 49 million people. The tainted water contained unhealthy concentrations of chemicals ranging from arsenic to uranium, as well as dangerous bacteria. The Times also discovered that nearly all of the local water districts were never punished for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act despite having exposed residents to the contamination. In many cases, the unhealthy water continued to be delivered for years before anything was done.