Which State Has The Worst Water Policies In The U.S.?

Water policy is a mess in many regions of the country, but a few states stand out as the worst offenders.

Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wyoming are the weakest states in the U.S. when it comes to water efficiency and conservation, according to a scorecard compiled by the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the Environmental Law Institute.

Each of these states scored two points, the lowest mark doled out. This score equated to a "D" on the scorecard.

Close behind were Michigan, Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, Montana, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Each state raked in only three points on the scorecard, earning them a "D" as well. Forty was the highest possible score, though no states earned a perfect grade.

Drought-plagued regions scored better than states where water is abundant. California and Texas pulled the high scores, each receiving 29 points, which landed them an "A-." Arizona was close behind, earning a "B+" with 23 points.

"Collectively, the 50 states earned a total of 492.5 points which averages out to a 'C' grade," the report said. "The results demonstrate that state level water efficiency and conservation laws and policies throughout the United States vary greatly. Many states have virtually no relevant policies and regulations, while others have a compendium of well- planned and strongly implemented practices."

Of the Great Lakes states, Michigan fared the worst. "With a 'D' grade, Michigan failed in categories such as state policies regarding toilet and shower head efficiency, water-efficient building or plumbing codes, or even guidelines for conservation among water utility companies — and was given a passing grade in only one category. In fact, Michigan has no guidelines that exceed federal standards when it comes to appliances, plumbing or water utility efficiency," Capital News Service reported last month.

The most recent survey questions are not public, but previous Alliance scorecards have included such questions as these: "Does the state require preparation of drought emergency plans by water utilities or cities on any prescribed schedule?" and "Does the state have a water consumption regulation for clothes washers that is more stringent than the federal standard?"

The results were based on a 20-question survey. Alliance for Water Equality is a Chicago-based non-profit dedicated to the sustainable use of water.

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