TAKE A STAND FOR WATER

Human bodies are 60% water – it’s more than half of what we’re made of. That’s why, when water runs short, so much in our bodies and in our world starts to break down. Water sustains life. Yet countries like the U.S. don’t have a comprehensive national water policy to ensure we’ll have clean water for generations to come.

Now’s the time, as climate change intensifies, to demand water policy that addresses it head on and creates a roadmap for equitable, efficient, and smart use of water.

Water management in the U.S. is fragmented, with responsibilities divided among federal, state, and local governments. This patchwork approach leads to inconsistent regulations, inefficiency, and poor coordination among those in charge. With less rainwater, more flooding contaminating water sources, and groundwater drying up, these scattered efforts no longer cut it.

We need a unified plan to coordinate how cities and towns across the country manage water. A national water policy would establish clear guidelines for water use, conservation, and distribution. It would prioritize investing in water infrastructure, ensuring that aging pipelines, reservoirs, and treatment plants are upgraded to prevent water loss and contamination. It would also promote water reuse and recycling, ensuring that wastewater is treated and repurposed for agriculture, industry, and our homes and businesses whenever possible.

Nearly half of the lower 48 states were considered to be in a drought by the end of 2024. Without a national policy, states are left to fend for themselves. States like California and Arizona, which experience extreme droughts, have enforced strict water conservation measures, while others continue unsustainable practices. A national water policy would set uniform rules, ensuring that all states contribute equally. It could also fuel the adoption of new methods to conserve water – like low-flow appliances, drip irrigation, and rainwater harvesting – to ensure future generations have access to water.

Water scarcity disproportionately affects low-income communities, especially in rural areas. They unfairly tend to pay higher water costs, have less access to clean drinking water, and those in cities suffer sicknesses of consuming water contaminated by industrial pollution or aging infrastructure. We need a national water policy to ensure that every person, regardless of income, location, or skin color has access to clean, affordable water.

Any good policy would include federal funding to repair and upgrade water infrastructure in poor communities. It would also enforce hold industries that pollute water accountable for the costs of cleanups – protecting vulnerable communities from contamination, and ensuring polluters pick up the bill for any health outbreaks caused by toxic water.

We have to remember that we need policy not just for the challenges we’re facing now, but for what’s to come. As our planet heats up, hotter temperatures will give us less snow and rain, and make groundwaters evaporate, making water management more complex.

A national water policy can lead the way, helping regions implement climate smart strategies. These could include water-sharing agreements between states, prioritizing growing drought-resistant crops, and protecting wetlands and other ecosystems that act as natural water storage systems.

Unless we coordinate efforts across the U.S., there is no way that every region will be prepared for climate change. A comprehensive, coordinated national water policy is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. Without it, life could start to resemble a sci fi movie where we’re wandering, lost and parched, through the desert.