WateReuse has white paper for Obama and US Congress

The WateReuse Association prepared a white paper in December for the US Congress and President-elect Obama’s transition team on Providing Safe, Secure and Sustainable Solutions for America’s Water Needs.

WateReuse says that the document includes ideas and solutions that provide sustainable water management in a manner that promotes a healthy environment, public health, and rapid economic recovery.

The white paper explains that water reuse and desalination are the “new” sustainable water supplies needed to stimulate the economy while providing reliable supplies for America’s communities. Water reuse and desalination provide Americans with the tools to more effectively address the challenges of growth, climate change, environmental degradation and energy usage, and to provide a safe and reliable water supply.

The document says that a new federal vision for supporting and enhancing the nation’s water supply should include:

  • Coordination among federal agencies to support comprehensive approaches to water supply shortages and water quality impairments;
  • Continued and expanded programs and research to support improved treatment and production technologies, public education and acceptance, and reduced energy consumption;
  • Increased federal grant assistance to construct projects;
  • Enhanced federal assistance to support capital formation and leverage investment by local agencies to develop projects and water supplies.
  • The white paper can be viewed on the WateReuse website.