Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner John Linc Stine shared the stage with Governor Mark Dayton at an event promoting Water Action Week, an initiative calling on Minnesotans to take specific actions to improve water quality. The initiative aims to encourage citizens to learn about water quality, teach children about clean water, set a water conservation goal, and contact elected officials about water issues.
This weeklong event comes on the heels of Dayton’s declaration of a Year of Safe Water Action, to begin in July. It will consist of “a statewide, year-long push to inform Minnesotans about the serious challenges facing Minnesota’s waters, gather input and ideas to address those challenges, and propose legislation…to improve the quality of water in our state for generations to come.” Dayton also highlighted his $220 million proposal to begin repairing and replacing Minnesota’s clean drinking water systems.
As Minnesota strategizes, alongside many states, to deal with aging water infrastructure, Stine endorses Governor Dayton’s view that Minnesota should “develop or strengthen a common Minnesota water ethic.” Stine acknowledges the many challenges ahead concerning this precious resource, and says a shared water ethic will help the state face those obstacles together. [Piper]
