NACWA Raises National Water Issues With Presidential Candidates

The National Assn. of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) forwarded letters to the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign and the Donald Trump Presidential Campaign outlining key municipal clean water issues the association would like the candidates to discuss in the current election season.   

The letters highlight that, in the wake of the drinking water crisis in Flint, Mich., and the ongoing drought in the West, it is a critical time for a national discussion on the importance of water as a national issue. The letters specifically request that the candidates focus on three pressing issues in particular:

• Water infrastructure investment and elevating it as a national priority;
• The challenges of ensuring low income populations can afford rising water and sewer rates; and
• Acknowledging and supporting the remarkable innovations in the municipal clean water sector.

The letters also note both candidates’ important commitments to infrastructure investments and encourage the candidates to specifically include water infrastructure investment in their policy discussions. 

"The American people are ready for a more robust dialogue on national water issues, especially water infrastructure, and NACWA will work with both candidates to ensure this needed discussion takes place," said Adam Krantz, NACWA CEO.  "The importance of municipal clean water issues could not be higher in this election—especially given the developments of the past year in Flint and the continued drought in the West. 

"It is time to elevate water as a top national priority, and NACWA calls on the candidates to make sure that clean and safe water infrastructure is specifically named when infrastructure is discussed in the upcoming presidential debates. We look forward to advancing these issues as the campaign season moves forward and with a new administration in January."  

Source: National Assn. of Clean Water Agencies