Utah's Drinking Water At-Risk

None by KCPW

Sierra Club Report Details Concerns

(KCPW News) One side-effect of Utah's arid climate is the large number of streams that do not run year round. The state draws much of its drinking water from these so-called "intermittent streams" which are now the target of developers who want permission to pave over and pollute them.

A new report from the Sierra Club finds 79-percent of Utah's streams are at risk, which amounts to 90-percent of the state's drinking water. The data comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which the Sierra Club's Lawson Legate says has grown lax in enforcing clean water policies in recent years. Utah has the highest percentage in the nation of streams at risk under the proposed changes. However, there is an amendment being considered in Congress that would stop the developer's proposal, given enough votes.

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