Andy Guy of the Michigan Land Use Institute has authored another set of provocative articles on Great Lakes water policy. One of the ideas generating comment (pro and con) is:
Establish a Water Resources Trust Fund, similar to the existing Natural Resources Trust Fund, to finance and enhance research, stewardship, quality, conservation, and restoration efforts for Michigan’s waters. Raise $3 billion annually for the fund by charging one cent for every gallon of water consumed—i.e., withdrawn from, but not returned to, the Great Lakes ecosystem—by municipalities, industrial manufacturers, and power producers.
http://mlui.org/landwater/fullarticle.asp?fileid=16981
Is imposing fees on the use of water the same as turning it into a commodity? That seems to be the conundrum to some.
What's interesting is that Great Lakes states charge significant sums for the removal of other minerals, but not for the removal of the one essential to human life.
Posted by Dave at January 4, 2006 09:05 AM