Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
That may (or may not) be changing, however, as talk of a
national water policy persists. Meanwhile, the nation's lawmak-
ers deal with some of today's water issues, and introduce, talk
about, and refer to committee (or something else entirely) vari-
ous related bills. Some fl ounder; others become law. The latter, for
example, include the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of
2010 (establishing programs for safe disposal of unwanted or old
prescription drugs and controlled substances), and several bills
approved by the lame duck Congress in December 2010 and sub-
sequently signed by President Obama in early January 2011. They
include the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (amending
the Safe Drinking Water Act to cut lead in drinking water), the
Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (addresses, among other things,
Native American compensation related to water rights), and an
amendment to the Clean Water Act that allows for federal agencies
to pay water pollution and control fees.
Sandia National Laboratories' Mike Hightower points to Israel
as an example of how managing water at a national level can
work even in a country that once was mostly desert. “Everything
is managed nationally for the best options for the whole country,”
says Hightower. “It works in Israel because it's a smaller country.
But you are seeing much more interest in improving water man-
agement and planning on a much larger scale than we do in the
United States. I think there are opportunities for organizations to
cooperate and improve water resources planning, resources man-
agement, and resources allocation.”
Water policy is considered the prerogative of the states, adds
Mumme, but the federal government does have some piecemeal
involvement. For example, it is involved where states share water-
sheds; in the Colorado and Rio Grande river basins; in funding
and fi nancing infrastructure for reclamation works in the western
United States; and through federal reserved water rights for Native
Americans arising from the
Winters
Doctrine.
Developing a national water policy is very important, says
Kramer. “I do think, however, a national policy must be based on
pushing for general principles that really apply nationwide, like
providing incentives for water conservation and water effi ciency,”
he says.
