Climate and a Strong Clean Water Act: My Drinking Water Week Ruminations

By Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director - Follow Lynn on Twitter, @LTCWA It’s Drinking Water Week and this writer would like to remind you that the Public Water Systems that deliver tap water to more than 85% of us accomplish this amazing feat in the face of numerous challenges. I’d like to end there but I can’t. The third National Climate Assessment came out this week. Its outline of the way climate change is already impacting your drinking water, and how it will in the future, is sobering. You can look at individual sections of the Assessment here. Some observations: "Changes in precipitation and runoff, combined with changes in consumption and withdrawal, have reduced surface and groundwater supplies in many areas. These trends are expected to continue, increasing the likelihood of water shortages for many uses." (Chapter 3, Water Resources) Translation: This is already happening folks. There is less surface and groundwater in some places. People rely on this water and there will be shortages.   There are many challenges to winning meaningful policies to reduce the pollution contributing to climate change. We are going to have to change that. Meanwhile, we will have to adapt. But wait: "Increasing resilience and enhancing adaptive capacity provide opportunities to strengthen water resources management and plan for climate change impacts. Many institutional, scientific, economic, and political barriers present challenges to implementing adaptive strategies." (Chapter 3, Water Resources) Translation: Apparently there are barriers to even protecting ourselves from the water disruptions we are already experiencing and those to come. That’s going to have to change too. We will be working with elected officials and agencies, along with colleagues in the drinking water sector, to figure out how we can overcome barriers to implementing smart adaptation strategies. We will also support policies and practices to reduce our contribution to climate change because it is not too late and it is important. And not just for drinking water (But that’s really not a negotiable need). What else could we do in honor of Drinking Water Week? In my book there’s no better contribution to the future health of our drinking water sources than supporting the Administration’s commonsense proposal to close gaps in Clean Water Act protection which leave drinking water sources for over 117 million people at risk. You can do that right now here. Thanks for your support and Happy Drinking Water Week.