Clean Water Coalition Urges Residents to Contact Representatives

A coalition of regional water preservation organizations released a video this week urging residents to contact their state representatives to pass several bills focusing on water treatment and restoration projects.

Known as “Clean Waters, Healthy Families,” the coalition is comprised of groups across the state including the , Edgewater-based (SRF) and the West/Rhode Riverkeeper.

“There are three bills we’ve been working on as part of a larger coalition, either through the Senate or the House,” said Erik Michelsen, executive director of the SRF in a phone interview. “We’re trying to urge legislators to get those bills passed before the session closes.”

Michelsen said members of the SRF attended the in Annapolis to show their support of the legislation.

The targeted bills and their summaries are listed below:

• Senate Bill 240 / House Bill 446—Complete upgrade wastewater treatment plants that have already been designated to receive the upgrades.

• Senate Bill 614 / House Bill 987—Provide local government with resources to reduce polluted stormwater runoff and implement clean water strategies on a local level.

• Senate Bill 236 / House Bill 445—Create a strategy to reduce pollution from “poorly planned development,” including limiting new septic systems.

CORRECTION: An earlier edition of this article had the incorrect spelling of Erik Michelsen. Patch regrets the error.