Water might very well be our most precious natural resource. We need it to drink, cook and bathe, just to name a few. When it comes to keeping Alabama’s water supply safe, the Alabama Rivers Alliance works daily to ensure the future of our rivers. The Alabama Rivers Alliance is a “statewide, nonprofit, water protection agency” whose “purpose is to protect and restore Alabama’s rivers.” We sat down with Katie Shaddix to see what she thinks is most pressing when it comes to Alabama’s rivers.

AO: What is the most urgent project you would like to make known for Alabama residents?

KS: Our rivers provide us with the water we drink and a healthy environment for swimming, hunting, fishing and enjoying nature.  They are recognized globally for their unique ecological significance. Our water resources are also essential for our farming, manufacturing, and navigation industries. It is critical to make sure these waters are managed and protected so there is water for everyone.  Alabama is the only state among its neighbors that does not have a plan to protect the flow of water in our rivers and streams. Many of the challenges to protecting water quality, natural ecosystems, and public health are rooted in the lack of a state plan for managing the use of the state’s waters.  Last year the Alabama Rivers Alliance, in partnership with the Southern Environmental Law Center, developed the Alabama Water Agenda, a plan outlining the components needed to ensure a healthy water future for Alabama. This year, Alabama Rivers Alliance staff members are traveling across the state on a daily basis talking to citizens and state leaders about the first component of the agenda, the need for a clear, comprehensive, statewide water management policy. Sound laws and smart planning for our waterways are necessary to ensure the sustainability of our water resources in the face of the myriad of threats facing them now and in the future.

There are many simple things that anyone can do to improve their water quality. One important thing for people to understand is how closely water is tied to energy. In Alabama, of all the water withdrawals from our rivers–including drinking water, agriculture, etc–a whopping 86% is for cooling power plants. It takes an enormous amount of water to make electricity, and then coal fired power plants (eleven of which operate in our state) release toxic chemicals like mercury into the air, which then make their way back down into our waterways. This means that conserving energy is one of the best ways to conserve water and protect it from pollution.  Conversely, the use, transportation, and treatment of water is one of the largest energy users in our daily lives, so conserving water also helps save energy.  The US EPA offers many helpful tips for conserving energy on their website. They also have tips for reducing polluted runoff and conserving water. All of these are very important ways to protect water quality.