Water Availability, Variability, and Sustainability (WAVS) Project Activities

The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) will present information about its current and future Water Availability, Variability, and Sustainability (WAVS) Project activities.  ASDWA began the WAVS Project to help its members address short and long-term drinking water sustainability and public health issues associated with extreme meteorological events -- exacerbated by the effects of climate change -- such as prolonged droughts and flooding of increasing frequency and intensity.  The project activities include:  a survey of ASDWA members conducted in spring 2008; a White Paper published in February 2009; a workshop held in fall 2009; and future action items for ASDWA and state drinking water programs. 
The presentation will explain the various roles and regulatory capacities of state drinking water programs to address water quantity and climate change related needs of states and water utilities, as well as emphasize the importance of coordination between and among all levels of government -- particularly, with regard to the development of policies, plans, and strategies by Congress, EPA, and other Federal, state, and local agencies to ensure short and long-term drinking water sustainability.
ASDWA is the member organization representing the drinking water program administrators in each of the 50 states, territories, the Navajo Nation, and the District of Columbia.