Making Drinking Water an Action Item

By Lynn Thorp — National Campaigns Director. Follow Lynn on Twitter @LTCWA

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a Drinking Water Action Plan. This plan was developed in response to the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan as well as other high profile drinking water incidents over the last several years. In consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, EPA has identified six priority areas for action. You can learn more about the drinking water challenges identified and EPA’s proposed actions here.

The most important takeaway from the Action Plan is that drinking water protection, treatment and distribution is complex and drinking water challenges can’t be tackled in isolation. The Action Plan envisions a endeavor that goes far beyond EPA but in which the federal government’s role is one of promoting innovation, of setting clear and effective regulations, of tackling new and longstanding contamination challenges and of fostering increased transparency and 21st century drinking water systems.

Making this vision real won’t fall only to EPA and the federal government. But making sure that the Drinking Water Action Plan initiatives don’t languish in a filing cabinet will be a critical job for EPA in the coming years.

Our statement on the Action Plan is here.