DENVER—A measure to protect and improve Colorado
water quality passed the first of two votes by the House of
Representatives today. Sponsored by Representative Kathleen Curry (D)
and Senator Betty Boyd (D), the measure (HB07-1329) is designed to
increase funding for the Water Quality Control Division to ensure
clean, safe drinking water for all of Colorado.
The
measure will fund new full time staff members at the Water Quality
Control Division by establishing and modifying fees paid for various
permits by water providers and wastewater dischargers. Many of these
fees were cut after the 2003 budget shortage; this bill will reinstate
them and ensure that the Division is on a path towards fiscal security.
"Recent audits by the EPA and the Colorado Auditor's office have demonstrated that Colorado’s
drinking water is in dire need of more assistance," said Representative
Curry. "By raising revenues we can invest more funds to protect our
drinking water."
Representative
Curry also expressed her desire to work on the legislation saying “In a
state like Colorado where everyone lives downstream, none of us can
afford not to make drinking water quality funding a priority”.
Environment Colorado’s
Clean Water Advocate Stephanie Thomas explained that due to the
staffing shortage at the Water Quality Control Division, the Division
is unable to adequately enforce water quality protection regulations
and statutes.
Recent
estimates by the Division are that the Division needs a minimum of 33
additional employees. Estimates from national models developed by the
EPA and state experts across the nation say that the Division may need
as many as 80 additional staff members to ensure adequate protection of
Colorado’s waters.
Thomas
noted that “this bill keeps us on the right path, though it doesn’t get
us all the way there.” “Nonetheless,” she said, “the bill provides
more funding for new employees and will definitely increase the ability
of the Division to adequately enforce and monitor statewide water
quality issues."
Founded
in 1966 the Colorado Environmental Coalition is the largest state-based
citizens’ group committed to conserving our clean air, water and open
spaces for generations to come; uniting Coloradoans to protect our
natural heritage and quality of life.
