Fixing the US Water Supply

States need water for use by citizens, farmers and certain industries.  States compete with each other in retaining and expanding industries who own land and operate in the State.

Water supplies usually come from rivers that feed reservoirs with dams and are often accompanied by hydro-electric power generation. 

In recent decades, dams have been destroyed and building reservoirs have been halted by the federal government due to demands from environmental groups.

But now, we have water shortages, farms closing and States in disputes over water rights and lawsuits over these disputes. There is too much corruption in the current system and it needs to be reformed to establish the absolute ownership of water by private land owners. Farmers would own the water in their own wells.  Government could not confiscate their water for “communal use”.

If a State gets sufficient rainfall to meet its needs, it may not need to purchase water from a bordering state.  But if a State does not have a sufficient water supply, they may need to buy surplus water from neighboring states.

Wildlife has no rights in this equation. Environmental groups would have no rights to restrict the use of private land owners’ property rights and water and mineral rights. Environmental groups who want habitat for wildlife can buy the land themselves. Governments should not spend tax dollars for wildlife.  The endangered species act needs an overhaul to ensure that private property rights are not infringed.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader