The SWCS view

Excerpt

THE recent 20th anniversary of Earth Day prompted me to reflect on that first Earth Day in 1970. It was an awakening of environmental interest, a beginning time for many to grapple with the meaning of ecology. In the United States, a positive force in an otherwise questioning period was the space program. A common cliche was: “If we can put people on the moon and return them safely, why can't we …?” The answer often was, “Because it is easier to put a man on the moon.”

Solving groundwater quality problems is a case in point. Comparison of lunar exploration and groundwater quality protection is indeed a study in contrasts. The moon landing had a visible, specific objective with strong public support, a nearly unlimited budget, relatively few people involved in the decisions to make it happen, and no real adverse effects. The technical challenges were enormous, but technology was America's strong suit.

Groundwater quality protection, on the other hand, is a nebulous objective involving an invisible, widely dispersed resource; many people; and limited financial commitment. While there is widespread public support for the concept of groundwater quality protection, too few …