“America’s water professionals are committed to assuring a safe and sustainable water supply, and our elected leaders also have an important role to play,” said AWWA Executive Director Gary Zimmerman. “We hope to encourage a cooperative approach to meeting today’s challenges with proactive policy solutions.”

This year’s effort, held on April 16-17, brought the local perspectives of water utility managers to their elected representatives, highlighting important water issues such as:

• Chemical Facility Security Legislation – AWWA supports chemical security legislation that protects Americans and respects the unique ability of local water providers to make treatment decisions that protect public health.
• Investing in Water Infrastructure – AWWA supports an appropriation of at least $1 billion to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to assist in the repair and replacement of wornout infrastructure.
• Preventing Pharmaceutical Compounds in Drinking Water –AWWA urges a sciencedriven approach to address the issue of pharmaceutical compounds in water and raise awareness about the importance of protecting our source waters.
• Addressing the Effects of Climate Change – To help address the threat of global climate change on the world’s water resources, AWWA recommends Congressional funding for an applied research program that:
  • Develops decision-support tools and identifies impacts, as well as adaptation and mitigation strategies
  • Develops policies to directly address water supply and availability variations
  • Increases funding for mitigation strategies and adaptation measures
  • Considers the consequences of alternative energy technologies on groundwater resources
  • Offers incentives for water utilities to reduce carbon emissions
  • Encourages water utilities to implement alternative energy projects

“There are no issues more important than the safety and reliability of our nation’s water supply and systems,” said AWWA President Nilaksh Kothari. “This week’s efforts will raise awareness of these issues among our leaders and inform public policy decisions that affect us all.”

Contact:
Greg Kail
303-734-3410
gkail@awwa.org