Cornelia Sargent

I strongly support this bill for the following reasons: In short, this bill strengthens our NH economy: improves bottled water quality, protects public health and decreases harm from plastic pollution. A proposed plastic water bottling operation in Claremont is deeply concerning to me regarding ancestral lands my family stewards over the past 9 generations. massive water withdrawals, disrupting our aquifers, and plastic pollutants can adversely impact unique natural communities, threatened and endangered species HB 1141 constructively expands the protection of our water resources. NH drinking water is inadequately protected under current laws. DES approval and other regulations are there to prevent irresponsible groundwater withdrawals, but these laws do not sufficiently protect water quality after withdrawal. HB 1141 is crucial to protect especially our drinking water quality. Current regulations to limit pollutants in bottled water are woefully inadequate, lagging far behind substantial proven science, and serious health impacts from pollutants and contamination. In addition, limited NH DES funding constrains their ability to monitor bottled water. Our NH reputation will be enhanced by requiring new bottling operations to use a higher standard than polluting plastics. Only a fraction of plastic bottles are recycled. This bill will reduce a significant portion of municipal waste, and these plastic bottles persist in the environment. I urge your support to improve our N.H economy, water, and health . Cornelia Sargent Claremont, ward 2