S787 - Changes the definition of "waters of the United States"

 
(If you have a water well on your property, this may be of interest.)

Fed Moves to Control All the Water in the US

By Nancy Matthis  |  Sunday, May 10th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Evaluate S.787 and see what you think (bill & summary attached). I'm not sure the bill will give the Fed govt total control of water, but it brings that power closer.

There is an exception to "groundwater" on page 5 of the bill. It says:

(9) "ground waters" are treated separately from "waters of the United States" for purposes of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and are not considered "waters of the United States " under this Act;

Question: What happens if a water well's groundwater is replenished from a water source -- ie, river, stream, lake, pond, etc. -- that IS named in the new definition and consequently under the legislative authority of Congress?

Also, keep in mind: it wouldn't take much effort to remove the groundwater exception or to insert "groundwater" into the definition at some future date. 

Debbie

S787, "Clean Water Restoration Act"   (pdf)

Status of S787 as of August 20, 2009  (pdf)