Working for Clean Water
ABOUT WORKING FOR CLEAN WATER LEGISLATION
The Working for Clean Water proposal is a balanced solution for Washington’s families, local communities, and our environment in these tough economic times. It will create jobs, provide support to the state’s basic services, and immediately address the biggest water pollution problem in the state: stormwater.
Stormwater pollution: A shared priority
Contaminated stormwater runoff is the number one water pollution problem in the state. Local governments need to be able to complete required infrastructure and retrofit projects now if we are to pass a cleaner Puget Sound and Spokane River on to our children. Time is running out to meet our shared goal of restoring Puget Sound by 2020.
Working for Clean Water will help rebuild our economy and protect ratepayers
Local governments don’t have the resources to complete required clean water projects, forcing them to consider higher property taxes and utility rates. Washington’s families can’t afford to shoulder the entire cost of pollution cleanup -we need a more balanced approach that asks polluters to pay their share.
A balanced solution: the Hazardous Substance Tax
Washington voters approved a tax on hazardous substances to clean up toxic pollution over 20 years ago (I-97 in 1987). It is levied upon substances that are the most significant stormwater pollutants: petroleum, pesticides, and toxic chemicals. Extending the tax to cover stormwater pollution cleanup and the state’s basic services is a responsible solution that reflects our shared values.
Creating jobs
The unemployment rate for our construction industry is a staggering 27%. The Working for Clean Water bill will directly fund millions each year in local construction projects to clean up pollution in stormwater. Retrofitting urban streets in Bremerton. Digging storm ponds to collect polluted water in Ferndale. Building better storm drains in Puyallup. Funding labor-intensive projects like these will create thousands of jobs to help get Washington working again.
Contact: Bruce Wishart, (360) 754-9177
