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(Source: Seattle Public Utilities) |
The goals for public and private entities managing water resources are to provide the public with a safe, clean, and reliable supply of water and protection from hazards such as flooding. These services should be provided equitably to all communities regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, geography, and other factors. While the United States has no stated policy on water equity, the United Nations has 17 sustainable development goals. Goal number six includes “universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all” and “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”See footnote 1 The UN calls for meeting these goals for all people around the world by 2030.See footnote 2
Several American cities have a stated policy on water equity. For example, Seattle Public Utilities describes its goals as “providing high-quality utility services and protecting public health and the environment for our customers…. it is designed to provide predictable rates while ensuring long-term sustainability and excellent service….”See footnote 3 New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection describes its goals as “To enrich the environment and protect public health for all New Yorkers by providing high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater….”See footnote 4 (emphasis added).
Many policymakers are addressing issues of equitable access and resilience for frontline communities by investing in programs that reduce multiple risks from climate change to water resources. These crosscutting programs include efforts to achieve the following objectives:
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Endnotes:
1. #Envision2030 Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs, View Source (last visited July 23, 2020). | Back to contentBack to content
3. Executive Summary: Strategy Business Plan Update, Seattle.gov (2018), View Source | Back to contentBack to content
4. 2018 Strategic Plan: Enriching Our Legacy, NYC Environmental Protection (2018), View Source. | Back to contentBack to content
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