This past year featured a lot of news about water and water supply. Given the situation in Flint, Michigan, people across the country are wondering if their state has the right procedures, laws and guidelines in place to prevent a water crisis in their home state.
With water being such a valuable resource in our environment, the Indiana General Assembly took steps this year to ensure that our water is protected and available for all Hoosiers to use and enjoy for generations to come.
District 48 State Senator Mark Messmer of Jasper says Senate Enrolled Act 347 requires the Indiana Finance Authority to prepare and submit a report on water loss and non-revenue water since current estimates show that 25 percent of Indiana’s water resources are lost due to leaky systems.
Now Senate Enrolled Act 256 requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to develop rules that would allow material that is normally considered solid or hazardous waste to be used for purposes other than disposal. With this law, materials such as old tires can be re-used in ways that would not pose a threat to human health or the environment.
Senate Enrolled Act 255 makes changes to the Excess Liability Trust Fund, a trust fund for people who own underground storage tanks or have them on their property.
Messmer says Alterations to how individuals pay into the fund will ensure costly environmental clean-ups can be paid for well into the future. he says with this new law, clean-ups will protect citizens from having to foot the bill for hazardous leakage.
As always, folks can free to contact Mesmer’s office directly with questions and concerns by email at Senator.Messmer@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.
