Rep. Sykes Leads Amendment To Protect Our Drinking Water, Prevent Increased Water Rates
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) introduced an amendment to H.R. 5089 to protect our drinking water and prevent increased water rates.
H.R. 5089 removes permitting requirements for discharges of pesticides into Clean Water Act-protected waters. This amendment would have reinstated the requirement for a permit if it could impact waters that a state may use for drinking water, or it could increase water costs because of additional water treatment needs.
“Water is an essential resource, and people in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District depend on access to clean, affordable water for their lives and livelihoods,” said Rep. Sykes. “This amendment would have protected our drinking water from dangerous pesticides while also preventing working people and families from having to foot the bill for corporate pollution and discharges. At a time when costs are high, Congress should not be putting the burden on our constituents to pay for bad actors. I’m disappointed my Republican colleagues struck down this amendment, but I’ll continue advocating for sensible permitting reform that allows businesses to grow, lowers costs for families, and considers the health and safety of consumers.”
Watch Rep. Sykes’ full committee remarks here.
The amendment was struck down on a party-line vote.
Water affordability is top of mind for constituents in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. At the start of 2024, the City of Akron announced water rates would increase $2.73 per hundred cubic feet (HCF) to $3.06 per HCF, a $0.33 increase. Most customers will see their bill increase $10 to $12 dollars per month. The Akron Water Department services Akron and all or parts of the cities of Tallmadge, Stow, Fairlawn, Cuyahoga Falls, Twinsburg, Hudson, Mogadore; and Bath, Boston, Copley, Coventry, Springfield, and Twinsburg Townships. Akron serves approximately 90,000 customer accounts with an estimated 300,000 service population.