Press Release
May 20, 2008
American Water Works Association
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies
National Association of Water Companies
Water Environment Federation
Water Utility Climate Alliance
Western Urban Water Coalition
CONTACTS: See Below
Groups Urge Congress to Address Water Resource Impacts of Climate Change
Washington, D.C. As Congress prepares to begin consideration of climate change legislation, a coalition of eight national water organizations today called on senators and representatives to recognize the severe impacts that global climate change will likely have on water resources in the United States.
The groups – whose members serve the vast majority of U.S. water and wastewater consumers – urged Congress to ensure that upcoming climate change legislation includes federal support and incentives to help drinking water providers, flood and stormwater agencies and wastewater systems confront the impacts of climate change.
In a statement sent
to members of the House and Senate in advance of next month’s planned consideration of S. 2191, the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act,” the water organizations stressed that “[m]any of the most critical impacts of global climate change will manifest themselves through the hydrologic system, and there is already strong evidence that climate change is having an impact on the world’s water resources.” Most experts believe drinking water providers, flood and stormwater agencies and wastewater systems will experience serious repercussions from climate change, such as reduced snow pack, increased storm frequency and drought, and rising sea levels.
The organizations identified three broad objectives that Congress should include in comprehensive climate change legislation:
- Research to develop and improve climate prediction models, necessary data resources, alternative water sources, new water management techniques, and evaluations of new carbon control technologies;
- Federal and other financial support for climate adaptation projects, including infrastructure enhancements, that may be needed to neutralize the regional impacts of climate change; and
- Incentives that encourage utilities, along with other small-scale emitters, to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The water organizations believe their statement should serve as a framework for Congressional action on the nexus between climate change and water. According to the organizations, enactment of their recommendations would be a significant contribution toward the sector’s efforts to continue providing critical water service in spite of the effects of climate change.
Contacts:
American Water Works Association: Tom Curtis, 202-628-8303
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies: Dan Hartnett, 202-331-2820
National Association of Clean Water Agencies: Chris Hornback, 202-833-9106
National Assoc. of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies: Susan Gilson, 202-218-4133
National Association of Water Companies: Louis Jenny, 202-833-0139
Water Environment Federation: Pat Sinicropi, 703-684-2416
Western Urban Water Coalition: Guy Martin, 202-654-1755
Water Utility Climate Alliance: David Behar, 415-554-3221
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