Health & Environment
The most important goal of private water service providers is to ensure safe, high quality, life-sustaining service. Providing safe, reliable water service that our customers can count on is our business. We understand the value of water, both to our customers and to the planet. We are dedicated to meeting the expectations of our consumers and the responsibilities of good corporate citizenship.
Privately owned and privately run systems are regulated at the federal level by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and at the state level by the various state health and environmental agencies.
Compliance with the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act
The highly technical public works systems and utilities that have been erected to implement the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act reflect a commitment in the United States to providing all communities with access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater, regardless of size and financial status. To follow this commitment, health and environmental statutes and regulations should be applied consistently rather than on a tiered basis or according to individual circumstances. Regulators should work with utilities to set compliance goals and to provide positive incentives for competent systems to take responsibility for small, poor-performing systems.
The US EPA should primarily focus on encouraging and providing incentives for water managers to achieve compliance through the many managerial, technical and financial tools available. However, NAWC strongly acknowledges that a transparent and consistent enforcement program also is a critical element of the nation’s efforts to ensure clean, safe, secure and reliable drinking water and wastewater service for everyone as intended by the authors of these landmark environmental laws. NAWC Statement on Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
The complete regulations regarding these contaminants available from the Code of Federal Regulations Web site.
Environmental Initiatives
NAWC members have pioneered numerous environmental sustainability practices to conserve water and energy. NAWC members have set conservation standards for the industry by supporting green buildings and infrastructure, wind and solar power, biodiversity and aggressive community conservation and education programs. NAWC member Aquarion Water Company joined forces with The Nature Conservancy in a ground-breaking partnership to establish a one-of-a-kind model for watershed management that holds sufficient water in reserve without denying the area’s watershed the water flow necessary for ecological health and vitality along the Saugatuck River in Connecticut. Other NAWC member companies, including Artesian Water Company in Delaware and California Water Services, have invested significant resources to improve and maintain the health of local watersheds, habitats and endangered species.
Earlier this year, American Water partnered with Battery Park City Authority in New York City to develop on-site wastewater and storm water treatment and recycling systems for The Visionaire, the fifth in a series of green residential buildings serviced by the company. The Visionaire is designed to receive Platinum (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is now considered to be the greenest high-rise residential condominium in the United States. The Visionaire's green features include a central water filtration system and advanced wastewater treatment system with a capacity to recycle 25,000 gallons per day for toilet flushing and air-conditioning cooling systems. In addition, a stormwater collection system will capture and store up to 12,000 gallons to irrigate the building's rooftop gardens. These water-saving measures along with energy and water efficient appliances allow The Visionaire to use 55% less potable water than a residential development of similar size.
As a reflection of member interest and involvement in the use of green infrastructure, NAWC is also a signatory on the Green Infrastructure Statement of Support signed by nearly 30 organizations to advocate for the use of green infrastructure as one way to address the nation’s clean water challenges.
Global Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
While considerable progress is being made towards alleviating water and sanitation problems in the developing world, more than 884,000,000 people throughout the world still lack access to safe drinking water; and 2 of every 5 people in the world do not have access to basic sanitation services.
For more than a decade, the NAWC has supported Water for People. Water for People helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs.
NAWC Supports: Full Implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act S. 624 & H.R. 2030 |
