Tap into clean water

I am requesting that the state of Idaho citizens contact their state legislators to support an addition of $350,000 in the 2012 budget for Idaho’s clean water program.

This funding would cost each state resident about 30 cents per year, according to the Idaho Conservation League. With this additional money in the budget, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality can implement water monitoring through the Beneficial Use and Reconnaissance Program. The BURP calls for water sampling and other upfront measurements of water conditions. The data gathered would be used to do water body restoration and improvements where needed. It is better and more cost effective to hold dischargers accountable ahead of time as opposed to correcting polluted waterways after the fact.

As a person who grew up in Idaho and returned, I value the clean water that makes this state special. Having lived in other states where the waterways were either severely contaminated or limited in amount, I feel clean water is too valuable an asset to waste.

Dave Pietz

Sandpoint