Posted
May 8, 2008

Vermont Steps in to Protect Water

State To Regulate Bulk Withdrawals That May Hurt Local Ecosystems.

In recent years, manufacturers, mining companies and bottlers in Vermont have been draining so much water from beneath the surface of the state that the state legislature has finally decided to regulate bulk water withdrawals – defined as more than 57,6000 gallons per day. Republican Governor Jim Douglas plans to sign the bill.

“We wanted to protect our groundwater for the next several generations,” state Sen. Virginia Lyons, chair of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, told the Christian Science Monitor. “If we don’t have any protections, then an international company could come in and begin to extract water and take [it] without regard for the amount of resources available.” Bulk withdrawals have already lowered groundwater and stream levels, with negative effects on the locals, including fish and wildlife.

Vermont’s legislation is unusual because it does not “grandfather in” existing bulk water users. The big users, meanwhile, are complaining that the permits will raise their costs by 50 to 100%. They also charge that the law may violate NAFTA, which prohibits unfair restraints on international trade. (A tip o’ the hat to Peter van Schaick for sending this news along.)