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PR VICE PRES. GORE HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS ON WATER

Release Date: 01/10/96
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PR VICE PRES. GORE HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS ON WATER

FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1995

VICE PRESIDENT GORE HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS ON THE NATION'S WATER QUALITY

Speaking at a Potomac, Md., drinking water treatment facility, Vice President Al Gore, Jr., accompanied by EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner, today stated that Republican budget cuts will hurt efforts to improve the quality of the nation's drinking water -- and the rivers, lakes, and streams that are the sources of drinking water for millions of Americans. "Safe, clean water is the first line of defense in protecting public health, protecting our children and our families, and protecting the basic values that are fundamental to the American quality of life," stated Vice President Gore. "We must not allow the Republican budget to roll back the progress of the past 25 years."

Administrator Browner released the latest EPA water quality survey, which indicates the need to continue progress in controlling pollution in U.S. waterways. As of l994, nearly 40 percent of surveyed U.S. water bodies remain too polluted for fishing, swimming and other uses, a figure that is consistent with the results of EPA's l992 survey. Major pollutants found in the survey of rivers, lakes, streams, and estuaries include sewage, disease-causing bacteria, fertilizer, toxic metals, oil and grease.

"We are holding our own in controlling water pollution, but we need to make more progress," Administrator Browner said. "Half of all Americans receive their drinking water from rivers, lakes, and streams. To protect public health, we must be vigilant in protecting our waterways."

The Vice President said that the Republican budget threatens the safety of water quality in four significant ways:

A cut of 30 percent, or $462 million, in funds for states for building wastewater treatment plants that would keep raw sewage out of waterways. President Clinton's FY 96 budget provides $1.6 billion for wastewater treatment funding;

A cut of 17 10n funds to set environmental and public health standards, including those protecting clean and safe water. The Republican budget cuts $310 million from the President's FY96 request;

A 27
ut in enforcement of all environmental programs -- including enforcement that would uphold safe drinking water and clean water standards -- a total of $114 million cut from the President's FY96 budget); and

A 45
ut in state loan funds that would help communities protect their drinking water. The Republican budget cuts $225 million, limiting states' ability to upgrade facilities that treat local drinking water to eliminate contaminants. President Clinton's FY96 budget request provided $500 million in loan funds that would go straight to the states for use in protecting community drinking water nationwide.

EPA's l994 water survey is the result of a biennial assessment of the nation's waterways. Every two years, states, tribes and other jurisdictions 

assess local waterways and report the assessments to EPA. EPA then reports the findings to Congress.

The l994 survey represents 17 percent of the nation's rivers, 42 percent of the nation's lakes and 78 percent of the nation's bays and estuaries.



The 1994 data show that runoff, storm sewers, and municipal sewage treatment plants are the most significant sources of pollution, showing the need for funding to help states upgrade wastewater treatment. Agricultural runoff contributes to 60 percent of the water quality pollution found in rivers and 50 percent in surveyed lakes. Urban runoff and storm sewers are the leading source -- contributing to 46 percent of the polluted bays and other estuaries.

Bacteria, nutrients, siltation and oxygen-depleting substances are the most widespread pollutants. For example, bacteria contribute to 34 percent of the polluted river miles. Bacteria are an indication of excessive sewage. Nutrients, such as nitrates in fertilizers and phosphates in detergents, contribute to 43 percent of lake pollution and 47 percent of bay and estuary pollution. Nutrients can deplete a waterbody's oxygen supply through the overstimulation of plant and algae growth. Silt also contributes to 34 percent of impaired river miles and 28 percent of impaired lakes. Silt can smother aquatic habitats.



As of September l994, states and other jurisdictions had issued over 1,500 fish consumption advisories, recommending that the public restrict consumption of certain contaminated fish species. The majority of the advisories, 73 percent, address mercury contamination in fish.

Copies of the "National Water Quality Inventory: 1994 Report to Congress," will be available in mid-January 1996. In the interim, copies of a fact sheet, the executive summary, and state-specific fact sheets are available from EPA's Water Resource Center at 202-260-7786. This information also will be available soon on the Internet; call the Water Resource Center for access information.

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