05 LC 98
0979
House
Resolution 999
By:
Representatives Buckner of the
76th,
Dodson of the
75th,
and Barnes of the
78th
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
the Natural Resources Defense Council for its efforts to provide Americans with
clean water; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the citizens of Georgia and of the United States deserve clean, safe, and
affordable water; and
WHEREAS,
water must be protected in order to prevent health-threatening pollution;
and
WHEREAS,
it is of the utmost importance to protect our water sources for human
consumption and recreation as well as for the benefit of other natural wildlife
that lives within and depends upon our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans;
and
WHEREAS,
whether we are admiring majestic ocean beaches that inspire our awe of nature or
simply drinking a glass of cool water, clean water is essential to life;
and
WHEREAS,
73 percent of the water used in a home is either flushed down the toilet or
washed down the shower drain; and
WHEREAS,
the wastes generated by the United States population are collected in sewer
systems and carried along by some 14 billion gallons of water a day, and, of
this enormous volume, some 10 percent is allowed to pass untreated into rivers,
streams, and oceans; and
WHEREAS,
sewer overflows and runoff from city streets threaten the life-sustaining
properties of our waters and endanger human health and wildlife;
and
WHEREAS,
according to the Clean Water Campaign, only 14 percent of the total 70,150
stream and river miles in Georgia are monitored, and, of those monitored, nearly
60 percent do not meet water quality standards; and
WHEREAS,
efforts to prevent water contamination have great value and importance because
98 percent of Atlanta's water supply comes from surface water sources;
and
WHEREAS,
sewage overflows cost Americans billions of dollars a year in medical treatment,
lost productivity, and repairs; and
WHEREAS,
preserving clean water is critical to our quality of life.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join in commending those efforts, spearheaded by the Natural Resources
Defense Council, to provide the citizens of Georgia and the United States with
clean water.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Natural
Resources Defense Council.