[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 THE LEWIS AND CLARK RURAL WATER SYSTEM

 Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, Minnesota is known as the Land 
of 10,000 Lakes. Water is one of the defining characteristics of life 
in Minnesota. Few, if any, States place such a high value or depend so 
much on the quality of their water.
  It is for this reason that today I join my colleague, Senator 
Pressler, in introducing a bill to establish the Lewis and Clark Rural 
Water System, an innovative project to provide a reliable supply of 
safe drinking water to communities in southwestern Minnesota, 
northwestern Iowa, and northeastern South Dakota. The introduction of 
this bill is particularly timely as we in the Senate work to resolve 
our differences in order to reauthorize legislation critical to the 
safety of our Nation's drinking water, the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  Right now, the only available water in these areas is contaminated 
beyond the primary and secondary standards for drinking water. 
Fertilizers, pesticides, chemical and fuel spills seep into the ground 
water causing higher levels of nitrates. In addition, shallow aquifers 
often contain sulphates. And oftentimes, water restrictions must be 
enforced, because the water supply is low.
  Studies show that the current law favors large systems, where the 
cost of treating the water supply is distributed among a large 
population. This can reduce the cost to just a few dollars per 
household per month. The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System will bring 
together 22 small rural water systems and communities, serving 180,050 
individuals with drinking water. By unifying the drinking water system 
serving this area, we can cost effectively provide the clean and safe 
drinking water that the farms and communities of this region deserve.
  Support for this project has been widespread, with State and local 
commitment from all three participating States. It is now up to us to 
provide the finishing touch of Federal authorization. I am proud to be 
a part of this project, and urge my colleagues to join Senator Pressler 
and me in cosponsoring this worthwhile legislation.

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