April 2009
U.S. Water News Online
AUGUSTA, Maine —A proposal to give Maine's groundwater supplies the same protections as surface waters is up for a public hearing before a legislative committee.
A number of statewide organizations are planning to testify for the bill before the Natural Resources Committee.
Portland Democratic Rep. Herbert Adams' bill would give groundwater all the same protections as fresh surface waters in lakes and streams. The bill comes up amid concerns in some communities about groundwater extractions by bottling companies.
Maine enacted a bill in 2007 that applies more uniform regulations for commercial water extractions. It was passed following an initiative campaign to impose a 20 cent-per-gallon tax on water drawn from Maine aquifers. The proposal never went to a public vote.