Merriam-Webster’s definition of “Stay the Course” is “to continue with a process, effort, etc., even though it is difficult.” That phrase has come to mind several times in the last few months, as we navigate the new administration in the White House and the 95th General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature. Individuals and organizations alike commonly rely on closely held principles and beliefs that are our guide compasses. At any point in time there can be a multitude of external factors, influences, and opinions that have the potential to cause us to wander off our intended course. I believe that for many of us in the “water” (drinking water, waste-water, stormwater, and source water) industry, maintaining our course is best described as trying to navigate a ship through a whirlpool.
Over the last few years, the pace of regulatory and legislative changes has reached a fever pitch. At the federal level for example, according to the American Action Forum, there were 636 new federal rules (regulations) finalized, with an estimated cost of over $1.53 trillion, in just the last two years alone. Granted, most of those new rules were not related to water, but several were, including the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvement (LCRI). In Arkansas, there have also been numerous bills filed in the last two General Legislative Sessions that directly or indirectly affect the water industry. Please note that I am not writing this message in an effort to criticize or debate the value of any of these proposed or implemented changes. Both benefits and detriments can always be found in any “change,” but no matter how large or small the stone that is cast into the water, it will cause a ripple. I am going to use the debate over fluoride in drinking water as an example. I am not referring to the recent law changes in Utah or Florida, or even the recent debates in Arkansas. I am referring to the current consideration of fluoridation of public water systems in the state of Louisiana. A proposed bill seeking the prohibition of the fluoridation of drinking water was amended to include prohibition of the use of chlorine gas as a disinfectant for drinking water. In my opinion, the regulatory and financial impact of this type of change could be a tremendous burden to those utilities in Louisiana that, like us, are already trying to maintain the affordability of safe drinking water while facing ever-increasing costs.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am a very visual thinker. So, this topic reminds me of the image of my kids and their friends all in a swimming pool jumping up and down with their noodles or floaties and trying to churn the water into big waves. One or two kids usually didn’t have much of an impact, but a pool full could create some real chaos! Anyone trying to “ride it out” in the middle of the pool was in for a challenge! Certainly, we at Beaver Water District, along with our customer cities, are navigating challenging waters. The significant growth of the region and its impact on our existing infrastructure, combined with an ever-changing regulatory and legislative landscape and increasingly limited financial resources makes planning for the future difficult, at best. Pressure to change course continues to grow. As we work diligently to protect our source water quality, we are facing increasing pressures and proposed plans to develop in green spaces that have served to buffer against potential urban pollution. Even as we engage with our communities to consider “smart growth” concepts to balance growth and environmental stewardship, there are efforts to reduce stormwater regulations for the sake of the speed of development. As we desperately try to expand and upgrade or repair our infrastructure as quickly as possible to stay ahead of the growing needs of our communities, we are facing increasing costs of materials and shortages of skilled labor.
I am confident, however, that we can overcome these challenges. Northwest Arkansas has been successfully doing so for generations. It has taken intention and a vision for the future to create the successes that we all enjoy today. Let’s not take it for granted. The best way to navigate this whirlpool is through communication, education, and collaboration. Stay the Course!