I’ve been dismayed that protection of Lake Auburn’s water quality and the Environmental Protection Agency waiver from filtration — providing ratepayers with safe, affordable drinking water — have become emotional political issues.

Pitting sister cities, developmental interests and private property rights against the management of a shared natural resource and public utility is unfortunate and distorts the underlying issues.

I’m acutely aware of Maine’s affordable housing crisis as a member of Lewiston’s Planning Board. I’m concerned with the quality and cost of clean drinking water in my community.

The Lewiston-Auburn metro area has unique economic and development challenges and advantages. Clean, affordable drinking water is a major advantage for residents, development and business interests as well as municipal budgets, and protecting our water is worth the effort.

I’ve been volunteering to support a non-partisan citizen group of local residents named We Protect Lake Auburn.

WPLA has worked with legislators and water quality experts to propose LD 1473, “An Act to Protect Certain Unfiltered Drinking Water Sources,” sponsored by Sen. Peggy Rotundo. This bill would help protect Lake Auburn and other sensitive drinking water sources in Maine, recentering the focus to natural resource protection regarding water quality and affordability.

This critical drinking water protection bill for taxpayers in Auburn, Lewiston, Poland, Portland, Damariscotta, and many other Maine communities has a hearing date of 1 p.m. Monday, May 1.

Let’s ensure that efforts to address the housing crisis aren’t at the expense of clean and affordable drinking water.

Joshua Nagine, Lewiston

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