This week, we join a wide array of organizations, government agencies at all levels, drinking water utilities, and others in marking Source Water Protection Week. It’s an opportunity to elevate the impact on drinking water when making decisions at the local, state, and federal levels.
All our activities can affect our drinking water sources, and that in the end affects us all. This is why Clean Water Action advocates for Putting Drinking Water First.
What’s At Stake: Our Water Protections
Two years ago, I wrote about how the fundamentals of source water protection still guide much of our work. Too often, local communities and drinking water treatment plants are left dealing with problems that should have been prevented upstream. That is why pushing for stronger Clean Water Act programs to keep contaminants out of drinking water, and defending those programs from rollbacks, remains central to our strategy for addressing water pollution and drinking water challenges.
Our work doesn’t stop with our advocacy around the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implementation of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. We remain active leaders in the Source Water Collaborative, where over 30 organizations represent a wide range of stakeholders and work together to advance drinking water protection at every level. Our shared mission is based on understanding that protecting where we get our drinking water improves water quality, protects people’s health, and reduces the need of costly treatment that burdens local governments, drinking water systems, and their consumers.
The Government Shutdown
As I write, the federal government is shutdown, which means that agencies like EPA cannot carry out important work that keeps pollution from ending up in the rivers, lakes, and groundwater that we rely on for drinking water. The administration is threatening to respond with major staff cuts and has already begun cancelling funding for public transportation and infrastructure projects under the guise of slashing climate programs. The federal government is not the only player in source water protection and in all the activities that lead to clean air, clean water, and healthier communities, but it is an essential one.
Robust federal implementation of our landmark environmental laws and robust investment in projects like water infrastructure are efficient ways to achieve multiple benefits. We will continue to advocate for both. We can't win without strength in numbers. Join us by donating or becoming a member today!
