Report on Missouri’s Water Export Legislation and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: New Legislation for Enhanced Water Security

In a significant move to safeguard its water resources, the state of Missouri has enacted new legislation, signed into law on July 14 and effective August 28, to limit large-scale water exports. This forward-thinking measure is designed to ensure the long-term availability of water for agriculture, industry, and municipal services, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The new law introduces several key regulations:

• A permit is now required for all water exports.
• Withdrawals for the purpose of export are restricted to a 30-mile radius from the state border.
• Annual reporting of water usage to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is now mandatory.

This legislative action positions Missouri as a proactive state in managing what experts, such as David Borrok of the Missouri University of Science and Technology, describe as its “most valuable resource.”

Alignment with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The legislation is a direct implementation of principles outlined in SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for all.

Key Contributions to SDG 6 Targets:

1. Target 6.4: Sustainable Withdrawals and Water-Use Efficiency. By regulating exports and mandating usage reporting, Missouri is taking concrete steps to prevent the overdraft of its water resources and ensure sustainable withdrawals. This is critical given the depletion of sources like the Ogallala Aquifer in neighboring states, which has increased external demand for Missouri’s water.
2. Target 6.5: Integrated Water Resources Management. The law establishes a framework for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to monitor and regulate water transport, a core component of integrated management. This addresses a previous gap where the state lacked the authority to track or control water being moved across its borders.

Missouri’s abundant resources, including over 110,000 miles of rivers and an estimated 500 trillion gallons of usable groundwater, are now protected under a more robust management system that prioritizes in-state needs.

Impact on SDG 2: Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture

The law provides critical support for SDG 2 by securing the water necessary for sustainable food production.

• Protecting Agricultural Irrigation: Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the state, accounting for 65% of consumptive withdrawals. As noted by farmer Tom Waters, ensuring water remains available for irrigating Missouri crops is vital for productivity, especially in drought conditions.
• Enhancing Food Security: By prioritizing local agricultural needs over out-of-state exports, the legislation helps stabilize crop yields and supports the livelihoods of farmers, thereby strengthening regional food security.

Supporting Economic Growth and Industry (SDG 8 & SDG 9)

Water security is a fundamental pillar for achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

• Attracting Investment: As emphasized by David Borrok, a secure water supply is a prerequisite for attracting large-scale industries, such as manufacturing and data centers, which have massive water requirements. The new law provides the stability and assurance that major companies seek before investing.
• Sustaining Existing Industries: The state’s businesses and residents use an average of 3.2 billion gallons of water daily. The legislation ensures this supply is not compromised by unregulated exports, thereby underpinning all sectors of the state’s economy.

Ensuring Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

The legislation directly supports SDG 11 by safeguarding water supplies for municipal use and recreational activities that are vital to communities.

Key Community Benefits:

1. Municipal Water Security: David Waller of the Missouri Rural Water Association highlighted the risk that large-scale exports could leave municipalities without sufficient water. The new law mitigates this risk, ensuring communities have reliable access to drinking water and sanitation services.
2. Protecting Recreational Value: Tourism and recreation centered around resources like the Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake are significant economic drivers. By preventing excessive water withdrawals, the law helps preserve these natural assets for community enjoyment and economic benefit.

Future Outlook and Responsible Management (SDG 12)

The Missouri Water Resources Plan projects that the state’s consumptive water demand will increase by 18% by 2060. The new law is a crucial step towards responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), creating a sustainable framework to manage this growing demand. While it restricts large-scale exports, it establishes a formal permit process for evaluating potential out-of-state water sharing, ensuring that any such transfer is monitored and does not jeopardize Missouri’s long-term sustainability.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The entire article revolves around the management and protection of Missouri’s water resources. The new legislation limiting large-scale water exports is a direct measure to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for the state’s residents, agriculture, and industries.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article explicitly connects water availability to agriculture. It states that “Agricultural irrigation accounts for the largest share of the state’s consumptive water withdrawals at 65%” and quotes a farmer saying, “Keeping that water to irrigate Missouri crops is important versus sending it to other states.” This highlights the link between water management and ensuring food security through sustainable agricultural practices.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article emphasizes that water security is crucial for economic development. It notes that major companies, including manufacturing and data centers which “use massive, massive amounts of water,” will not move to a state without sufficient water resources. Protecting water is framed as a strategy for long-term economic growth.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article addresses the water needs of municipalities. It mentions that water exports could mean a “municipality that might need water within the state… might not have water for their usage.” It also points out that in northern Missouri, where groundwater is salty, municipalities rely on surface water for drinking purposes, making its protection vital for communities.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article touches upon the protection of freshwater ecosystems. It mentions Missouri’s “110,000 miles of rivers and streams” and the potential negative impact of large-scale water exports on recreational and ecological resources like “Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and the Scenic Riverways.” It also discusses the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer in neighboring states as a cautionary tale about unsustainable water use affecting terrestrial and underground ecosystems.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article discusses the state’s total water usage (3.2 billion gallons per day), the breakdown by sector (65% for agriculture), and the projected 18% increase in demand by 2060. The new law, by requiring permits and monitoring, is a mechanism to ensure withdrawals are sustainable.
2. Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The legislation is a clear example of integrated water resources management at the state level. It specifically addresses a transboundary issue by regulating water exports to neighboring states like Kansas and Oklahoma, which face water shortages due to the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

1. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices… that strengthen capacity for adaptation to… drought. The article highlights the importance of irrigation for Missouri’s crops, especially in the Bootheel area. Securing water for irrigation is presented as a way to build resilience against drought and ensure the viability of farming, which is a key component of a sustainable food production system.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The article links future economic growth—attracting manufacturing and data centers—directly to the sustainable management of water resources. The law is a step towards ensuring that economic development does not lead to the degradation of the state’s most valuable natural resource.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce… economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters… with a focus on protecting… people in vulnerable situations. The article addresses the slow-onset disaster of water scarcity. The law is a preventative measure to protect municipalities from future water shortages that could disrupt services and cause economic harm, particularly in areas like northern Missouri that are dependent on surface water.

SDG 15: Life on Land

1. Target 15.1: By 2030, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. The article mentions the potential threat to Missouri’s rivers, streams, and lakes from excessive water exports. Protecting these resources is vital for tourism, recreation, and the overall health of the state’s ecosystems.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Indicator 6.4.2 (Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources): The article implies this by contrasting Missouri’s water abundance with the scarcity in neighboring states due to the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer. The new law aims to prevent future water stress in Missouri. Specific data points that can be used as indicators include:
  • Total daily water use: “3.2 billion total gallons of water each day.”
  • Projected water demand: “expected to rise by 18%, or by approximately 583 million gallons per day, by 2060.”
  • Water use by sector: “Agricultural irrigation accounts for the largest share… at 65%.”
• Indicator 6.5.1 (Degree of integrated water resources management implementation): The implementation of the new law itself is an indicator. The article states the law “requires a permit for water exports” and “mandates annual reporting of water usage to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,” which are direct, measurable actions of water management.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article implies that a key indicator is the difference in crop yield between irrigated and non-irrigated land. The statement that “the irrigation more than pays for itself” suggests that crop productivity and profitability are metrics used to evaluate the importance of water for agriculture.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• An implied indicator is the attraction of new industries to the state. The article suggests that success could be measured by the ability to attract “manufacturing,” “data centers,” and other “major company” investments, which are contingent on water security.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article implies that tourism revenue and the ecological health of specific water bodies are indicators. It mentions “massive amounts of tourism dollars coming in from Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and the Scenic Riverways,” suggesting that maintaining water levels and quality in these areas is a measurable outcome of successful water management.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bentoncountyenterprise.com