Close loopholes in Clean Water Act

The recent Environmental Protection Agency announcement releasing a proposed rule clarifying which waters are protected under the Clean Water Act is great news for Iowa. Sixty percent of Iowa's streams are at risk of unchecked pollution and these streams feed into major waterways such as the Cedar River that provide the drinking water for 667,000 Iowans. The EPA's proposal to restore protections to these waterways will ensure clean, safe drinking water for Iowans and their farms and businesses. This announcement is the biggest step forward for clean water in a decade.

We all have a stake in the health of our communities and water is at the foundation of individual and community health. Let's work toward ensuring that we have clean water for our children, communities, and businesses. I encourage President Barack Obama's administration to close the loopholes in our Clean Water Act, thereby restoring protections to the millions of acres of wetlands and thousands of miles of streams across the country.

Alexandra Ward

Environment Iowa Clean Water Campaign coordinator

Des Moines