Jenniffer González Advocates Joining Efforts To Improve The Quality Of Ocean Water

Press Release

The resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, called for greater collaboration between federal and state agencies, the community and the private sector throughout the nation to preserve water quality and maintenance of watersheds, highlighting its importance to economies, maritime life and society in general.

"Water quality degradation presents a real and serious threat to the marine environment, our coastal communities and human well-being. Addressing this issue requires us to employ a collaborative approach between federal and local governments, industry, organizations, and other stakeholders. It is important that we unite in guaranteeing clean water, since this influences the quality and quantity of food that we can collect from the oceans and sustains economic activities such as tourism, coastal recreation and fishing", said the also co-chair of the Caucus of the Oceans, during the celebration of the Week of the Oceans in the Congress of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

The congresswoman indicated that 80% of all the pollution that reaches the oceans and coastal areas originates from land-based sources, in particular toxic substances, sediments and excess nutrients from untreated sewage, sewage and septic systems; deforestation; oil and chemical spills; among others.

Among the efforts being worked on in Congress and in which the commissioner has been a participant since before chairing the Oceans Caucus, is the allocation approved for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Funds for Beaches Act, that help states and territories develop and implement beach monitoring and notification programs to protect beachgoers from polluted waters.

Similarly, through the Save Our Seas Law and the Save Our Seas 2.0 Law, of the González Colón commission, Congress reauthorized programs of the National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address the problem of marine debris in the oceans and created new grants to prevent plastic waste from reaching waterways.

Another initiative is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that awarded $50 billion to the EPA to improve the nation's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, which will be critical to ensuring that untreated sewage does not reach stormwater. surface.

"One of the most effective ways the federal government can help restore water quality is by supporting initiatives that address watersheds. Watersheds act as filters for polluted stormwater, providing clean water for drinking, irrigation, vegetation , aquatic life and industry. Therefore, these projects would be an important tool to protect marine resources and coastal habitats," added González Colón.

NOAA's Coral Program, for example, has developed management and conservation plans to protect coral reefs from land-based sources of pollution. In Puerto Rico, this program has provided guidance to organizations and state agencies to help them carry out projects focused on watersheds to mitigate sources of polluted stormwater sediments such as unpaved roads, which affect marine vegetation and reefs. coral.

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