What Biden's Administration Means for Water Quality

January’s initiatives are just a few glimpses at what’s possible under the Biden administration.

• By Jane Marsh
• Feb 04, 2021

It might not seem like the U.S. has a water quality issue. If you consider water contamination, you probably know Flint, Michigan as the most infamous example. But there’s more to the story, as around 63 million Americans are exposed to unsafe water throughout the country.

This problem arose due to factors that former President Donald Trump largely ignored and even exacerbated. How will President Joe Biden’s administration help? Take a look.

Contributors to Water Contamination

What causes poor water quality? It’s not a one-size-fits-all problem. In other words, you can’t point to a single source as the main cause. This issue has accrued over many years due to contamination from agriculture, landfills and more. There are various pollution types and categories that impact water quality.

It’s evident that environmental legislation will help make water cleaner for all. Plans that limit pesticide use have a positive effect. Unfortunately, the Trump administration chose to reduce how many waterways receive protections—and that’s only one protection they rolled back.

If we want to ensure more people have consistent access to clean and safe water, we have to make sustainable changes as a nation. In today’s day and age, we shouldn’t deal with contaminants like radium or lead as often as we do. Progress must happen.

Possible Solutions for Water Quality

Before we look at how the Biden administration plans to help, we must recognize what needs to happen. This way, we can differentiate between positive and negative actions. There are many approaches leaders can explore to reduce water contamination.

These tactics range from new farming practices to sustainable infrastructure installation. In other words, we need to construct a system that protects our water supply from various human-induced threats. Moves like eliminating waste, passing legislation and redesigning cities are smart places for everyone to start.

It’ll take hard work to overcome our current issues. However, we have a shot when leaders are on our side. That’s why many environmental advocates look forward to the Biden administration’s coming years.

How Biden’s Administration Will Help

If you look at the Biden administration’s approach to climate change, you’ll see a stark difference compared to Trump-era policies. Overall, the Biden administration plans to get America back on track regarding sustainability. This effort becomes apparent when you look at which executive orders were passed during President Biden’s first month.

There’s much to anticipate from the Biden administration. In January’s executive orders, President Biden furthered efforts to triple protected lands, including oceans. There are also efforts to prioritize renewable energy, reduce pollution numbers and listen to experts.

These moves are necessary for a better environmental future. Thankfully, we can also count on specific measures to increase water quality. If you make solar power more accessible, for example, you can expect individuals and businesses to move away from fossil fuels—which lead to water pollution. Every similar action has a positive impact that might not be evident at first glance.

January’s initiatives are just a few glimpses at what’s possible under the Biden administration. It’s important to remember that we can’t expect revolutionary change. President Biden has a lot to consider—because, after all, his administration can’t accomplish everything. However, we can still acknowledge that there’s a silver lining.

Water Contamination Won’t Disappear, but Future Conditions Look Hopeful

America’s climate change action looked abysmal after the Trump administration left the White House. Fortunately, we might be able to overcome issues like poor water quality thanks to President Biden’s way forward. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we can expect some progress.