LAW, ADVOCACY & POLICY

Water Banking Legislation

CRWA Supports New Water-Banking Legislation

The Charles River Watershed Association supports the new legislation, “SB 543—An Act to encourage and promote water conservation”.  This bill clarifies the authority of municipalities, water boards and districts to establish water-banking programs by assessing reasonable fees to be used exclusively to mitigate or offset the impacts of water withdrawals and other activities on streamflow and groundwater.  The new act requires that the amount of the fee should be based on the cost of saving at least two gallons for every gallon of new water demand.

This act was put into place in order to avoid depletion of water resources and to secure these resources for present and future consumers.  It creates a tool that municipalities can use at their option to help meet existing water demand and to ensure water is available in the future, as well as to protect and restore rivers and streams.  Often towns have trouble implementing such programs due to lack of funds, however, the new legislation provides for this inadequacy.  The act is not intended to be a requirement, but rather provides towns with the means for water conservation programs.

Text of the legislation

CRWA Deputy Director Margaret Van Deusen's testimony on the legislation