Take Action

Protect America's Water (Organization)

Protect America's Water: Creating a Trust Fund to Keep our Water Clean and Safe

Whereas, many of our nation’s water pipes and sewers were installed in the early part of the 20th century, some as far back as the Civil War; and

Whereas, as water systems age and population grows, more and more leaks develop and sewage overflows into our streams, rivers, lakes and ocean, creating serious public health hazards; and

Whereas, public health agencies issued more than 20,000 warnings against swimming at beaches on U.S. coasts in 2005, and a majority of beach closings are due to sewage overflows and malfunctioning sewage plants; and

Whereas, the National Research Council recently warned that we should expect more water-borne disease outbreaks if there are not "substantial investments" made to improve our water pipes and systems; and

Whereas, there is currently a shortfall of more than $22 billion per year between the funds available and what is needed to keep water safe for human and environmental health; and

Whereas, the federal government has cut the main source of funding for clean water year after year; and

Whereas, the spirit of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act are threatened by lack of funding for water infrastructure; and

Whereas, according to a recent poll, nine out of ten Americans believe that clean and safe water is a national priority that deserves federal investment; and

Whereas, there are federal trust funds for other major national investment needs like highways and airports, yet the federal government has yet to establish a trust fund to protect something all people need to survive: water;

Therefore, ____________________________________________________________  (name of organization) endorses a trust fund for clean and safe water based on the following principles:

• Pollution prevention and drinking water source protection;

• Water conservation by the largest water users, including agriculture and industry;

• Public participation and accountability for public officials;

• Access to affordable water;

• Public funds for public utilities;

• Environmentally sound use of our water resources; a trust fund will not subsidize sprawl;
• Developing and implementing innovative, environmentally sustainable infrastructure, appropriate for local conditions;
  

• Appropriate fees for industries that pollute our water.

Water is a public trust.  It's time for a trust fund that protects our water and keeps it clean and safe.

For more information, contact Jessica Roach at 202-797-6565 or jroach@fwwatch.org.

www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/americaswater