Clean water crisis threatens US

[Geee]

The Hill:

The United States is on the verge of a national crisis that could mean the end of clean, cheap water.

 

Hundreds of cities and towns are at risk of sudden and severe shortages, either because available water is not safe to drink or because there simply isn’t enough of it.

 

The situation has grown so dire the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence now ranks water scarcity as a major threat to national security alongside terrorism.

The problem is being felt most acutely in the West, where drought conditions and increased water use have helped turn lush agricultural areas to dust.

But dangers also lurk underground, in antiquated water systems that are increasingly likely to break down or spread contaminants like lead.

The crisis gripping Flint, Mich., where the water supply has been rendered undrinkable, is just a preview of what’s to come in towns and cities nationwide, some warn.

“We are billions of dollars behind where we could and should be,” said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who spent 12 years on a municipal water board before running for state office. “People in the clean-water world would tell you they’ve been shouting about this for a long time.”

“For much of the U.S., most people don’t perceive any shortage,” he added. “But we’re going to talk a lot about shortages now.”

[Geee]

Senate panel aims to push $9.3 billion water infrastructure bill

 

A $9.3 billion water infrastructure development bill could end up making it to the Senate floor by the end of the week, according to Senate aides.

 

Introduced Tuesday morning, the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 would authorize 25 Army Corps of Engineers projects in 17 states that already have funding approved. Those 25 projects would total $4.5 billion and include projects that would improve ports, rebuild levees for flood control, increase hurricane protection in Louisiana, and build ecosystem restoration projects in bodies of water across the country.

 

In addition, the bill includes $4.8 billion in investment in the country's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

 

An aide on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said the panel is bullish on the bill's chances of getting through Congress this summer. A markup is scheduled for Thursday and the goal is to get the bill to the Senate floor as soon as possible.

 

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/senate-panel-aims-to-push-9.3-billion-water-infrastructure-bill/article/2589559

[nickydog]

Oh, good. Yet another thing to worry about.