HB449

We do not need a Flint, Michigan in NH.

I'm writing to oppose this bill as I believe that it is DEFINITELY the State's responsibility to ensure that we (all households and work and recreation places, have adequate, clean, and as free from toxic substances as possible water- a basic human right.  And while I am aware that achieving that end, these days, may be difficult, it is imperative and may well make us clean up our acts in other ways as well.  We all deserve to have healthy water, no?  What a ridiculous question.  If this bill passes, it allows the state to no longer assure this basic right.  Water filtration does NOT achieve the same need for clean for water for all and everywhere.  Please vote NO for HB 449.

HB 449, could put many NH homeowners and businesses, adults and children, in danger of drinking water with dangerous chemicals. This bill will help the state evade their role in protecting drinking water for NH residents. This could have a serious negative effect on your water district, or a family member. Additionally, HB 449 ruins the NH reputation for reliable, safe drinking water, and could seriously affect NH's economy.

NH communities deserve to have legislative protection for access to clean water. Clean public drinking water should be a statewide promise and not left up to individuals and businesses.

As a resident of NH, I believe that I have a right to clean water, which is basic to life. If the state is not doing its job to regulate forces, whether domestic or otherwise, that protect my right to clean water, that protect my health, what good is it? I oppose HB 449 which reduces the responsibility of the state to protect my basic right of clean water. Additionally, I believe this about clean air, too, but that's for another day. Do your job. Protect us. Rebecca MacKenzie, Claremont, NH

This bill releases water districts from responsibility to provide safe drinking water if legislators fail to pass a request for funds to remediate a water treatment system. Homeowners and businesses must then find other sources of drinking water. The impact of this bill? Immediate uncertainty about NH's drinking water supply. Uncertainty instantly discourages new business and home sales in NH in favor of neighboring states with more reliable drinking water protections. Uncertainty instantly reduces property values because homeowners cannot predict water quality. They will have to pay for their own on-site water treatment if legislators reject requests for funds to remediate their water system. In water districts that fail, childen will suffer most because even small amounts of chemicals (e.g., lead) can permanently damage developing brains, while bouts of dysentery harm growth and health. HB449 will damage NH's reputation for safe, reliable drinking water.

We know from Flint Michigan that contamination of drinking water for some damages the economy for all, and seriously harms many people, especially children. HB449 will irrevocably damage our reputation for safe, reliable drinking water.

I am very concerned that this bill will threaten the health of our citizens, cause great uncertainty and distrust of public water systems, and further erode an essential public service. We have invested millions of dollars and decades of effort to keep our water clean. Please do not allow this huge public health accomplishment to be destroyed. Thank you.

The necessity for being known as a state and region that demands safe, available drinking water is critical in supporting incoming residents and businesses. Without that, who would want to live or work in NH? It is essential for providing the quality of life most citizens demand.

This bill discourages accountability of water districts to provide clean safe water .

HB449 is not clear. Who would pay for water filtration systems? Would they be sufficient to protect our citizens and vulnerable children? Would they be adequately tested and monitored? Why are we not ensuring that the State of NH has clean, potable water? Do we expect to be known as the next Flint, Michigan? Who would ever move a business to NH or buy a home here?

This bill makes absolutely no sense and if ever implemented and the required funds are not approved, would certainly lead to people ingesting non potable water. It would also lead to companies looking elsewhere and property values to be hurt. We are talking about potable water, a fundamental need for human survival. HB 499 has to be one of the dumbest attempts to abdicate basic government responsibility for its citizens' safety I have ever seen.

This bill is a travesty. The Legislature must allocate the funds to remediate water treatment systems that fail the acceptable standards set by DES to ensure that communities have safe drinking water. It would be malfeasance for the LEGISLATURE to refuse to pass any such bill, so why would we leave a loophole like this in statute?

I strongly hold that municipalities with water treatment facilities should be held responsible for providing potable water. If the water they provide is not potable, they should provide as much potable water as individuals and families need for drinking, cooking and bathing. The amounts suggested in the bill appear paltry. Further, I agree with observers who feel this will make New Hampshire an unattractive spot for vacationing, working or living in.

The impact of this bill will be that all of NH will experience immediate uncertainty, which will instantly discourage new business and home sales in NH in favor of neighboring states with more reliable drinking water protections. The uncertainty will instantly reduce property values because homeowners cannot predict water quality and know they will have to pay for their own on-site water treatment if legislators reject requests for funds to remediate their water system. In addition, this bill will result in a ruined reputation for New Hampshire's safe, reliable drinking water.

Dear Committee Members, HB 449 seems to recommend a terrible dereliction of responsibility and stewardship over public health regarding ensuring safe, potable water for our citizens, businesses and visitors. It is beyond me to imagine justification for such legislation. I ask you to vote resoundingly against HB 449. Thank you for your careful consideration. Sarah Doucette

This bill is a form of direct self-harm to NH on the whole and a grave issue of inequity as well as public health, with sharp, objective, and long-lasting repercussions for all, whether developing fetuses/newborns, those with compromised systems like cancer patients, or even 'normal healthy people'. It is ludicrous that this bill even made it this far in our legislature, bringing into question whether any legitimate medical professionals, let alone NHDES experts, have been consulted. To summarize the CERTAIN NEGATIVE IMPACTS (re-stating them from Dr. Cynthia Walter): Impacts of HB449: All of NH – Immediate uncertainty and ruined reputation for NH drinking water supply. • Uncertainty instantly discourages new business and home sales in NH in favor of neighboring states with more reliable drinking water protections. • Uncertainty instantly reduces property values because homeowners cannot predict water quality and know they will have to pay for their own on-site water treatment if legislators reject requests for funds to remediate their water system. In Water Districts that fail, people will suffer. • On-site residential treatment systems that HB449 requires from the water district, e.g., 2 gallons per bedroom, provide inadequate volume, are unreliable and impossible to frequently test for safety. • On-side treatment systems require knowledge and cost for maintenance that most citizens do not have; thus people will be drinking contaminated water. • Children will suffer most because even small amounts of chemicals e.g., lead, can permanently damage developing brains, and bouts of dysentery diminish growth and easily spread disease to others. In sum, we know from Flint Michigan that contamination of drinking water for some damages the economy for all, and seriously harms many people, especially children. HB449 will irrevocably damage our reputation for safe, reliable drinking water. PLEASE SHOW COMMON SENSE BY BURYING THIS BILL.

Unfortunately this bill releases water districts from responsibilities to provide safe drinking water if legislators fail to pass a request for funds to remediate a water treatment system. Customers would then need to find other sources of drinking water. The uncertainty discourages new business and home sales and reduces property values. We know from Flint, MI that contamination of drinking water for some damages the economy for all, and seriously harms many people, especially children.

Contamination of drinking water for some damages the economy for all, and seriously harms many people, especially children. The results would be devastating!

Please OPPOSE HB 449 Negative Impacts of HB 449: HB449 creates Financial Uncertainty is forced on the entire state; nobody escapes these consequences. HB 449 Hurts Businesses: No business wants to locate in a state where they must constantly pay to provide their own drinkable water. HB 449 Hurts Homeowners: Every property owner will have an added burden of paying for their own water cleaning system to have drinkable water. HB 449 Hurts Property Value: The burden of paying for private water cleaning systems will make NH properties unattractive and destroy the real estate market. Inadequate Water Supply: The 2-gallon/bedroom limit set by the law is inadequate for even normal use. HB 449 creates Unreliable Water System: Private water cleaning systems are unreliable and will add uncertainty to the housing market and private lives of all NH residents. HB 449 creates Unsafe Systems: HB449 forces every homeowner and businessperson to constantly maintain their own water filtering systems which makes it unsafe because they require knowledge and funds most citizens do not possess. HB 449 makes Children Suffer: HB449 will harm children because when private systems break down children will be forced to drink polluted water.