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Funding News:

NACWA, WIN Continue to Press for Clean Water Funding in Job Creation Bill

NACWA and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) continue to press their case on Capitol Hill and at the White House that additional funding for clean water infrastructure should be included in any legislative effort designed to create more jobs. With national unemployment levels hovering around 10 percent, lawmakers are working to develop legislation designed to create jobs and put Americans back to work. NACWA and WIN members were among the first to advocate for clean water infrastructure funding in jobs bill when they met in November with Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). A broadly disseminated WIN white paper shows that a $20 billion investment in the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, as part of any job creation effort, has the potential to create approximately 400,000 jobs in 2010.

Since this meeting, NACWA has briefed other senior leaders in Congress on the WIN/NACWA jobs creation proposal in an effort to build momentum for the proposal. Over the past two weeks NACWA has met with Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chief architect of the jobs creation proposal in the House and Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, and has shared the proposal with senior staff on the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and at the White House. NACWA will continue to meet with congressional staff about including clean water funding in any upcoming jobs bill and will keep members apprised of further developments. Those in the clean water community are urged to contact their Senators and House members to urge them to include this important funding component in any upcoming jobs bill.  Please contact NACWA's This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

NACWA Member Testifies On SRF Stimulus Implementation

NACWA testified Nov. 4 at a hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on how funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have helped wastewater utilities and created jobs for local communities, but said some revisions were needed if Congress pursues a second stimulus bill.  Michael Gritzuk, director of the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department in Tucson, Ariz., testified on behalf of NACWA, saying his agency used $10 million in ARRA funding for its plant interconnect project, which is needed to help the county meet demands placed on the system by its growing population.  He urged the subcommittee to support more funding for the clean water state revolving fund (SRF) to address the growing infrastructure needs nationwide.  In addition, he said any future stimulus funds should be distributed to communities and utilities with projects that are “shovel ready” and that will create jobs quickly rather than basing allocation decisions on pre-existing priority criteria or single indicators.  NACWA also issued a press release on Gritzuk’s testimony, which was covered by several trade publications.  NACWA also was mentioned on National Public Radio’s Marketplace Morning Report.

Oberstar Seeks Input on Trust Fund Concept; Vows to Move Ahead
During the hearing, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn), chairman of the full House T&I Committee, committed to moving forward on the creation of a dedicated trust fund for clean water projects during the 111th Congress.  Prompted by NACWA’s testimony, Oberstar acknowledged the growing interest in a dedicated revenue source for water infrastructure projects given the significant gap between available funds and clean water needs throughout the nation.  “There is an urgency and sense of need to address clean water but also an awareness that we don’t have the ability to address this through general fund revenues,” he said.

Oberstar took a moment to poll those testifying at the hearing on their support of a trust fund and asked them to take part in the larger discussion on how a trust fund should be structured and distributed.  Specifically, the Chairman asked panelists to submit comments for the record regarding their thoughts on revenue sources and on fund distribution.  NACWA will submit comments in the coming days to satisfy this request and will continue its extensive efforts to build support among members of the House for the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 3202), a bill introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) to create a $10-billion annual trust fund.   

NACWA Moves Forward On Support for Water Trust Fund Bill

NACWA has been working tirelessly on Capitol Hill over the past several weeks to build support for the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (H.R. 3202), introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) to establish a $10-billion annual trust fund for water infrastructure.  Blumenauer had a letter to the editor published in the New York Times recently, touting the importance of a trust fund.   NACWA sent correspondence to all House members, along with Blumenauer’s letter, urging their support and asking them to cosponsor the legislation.  NACWA has set up meetings with many House members, with a specific focus on those who sit on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House Science and Technology Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee to seek their support.  NACWA encourages others in the clean water community to assist in this critical effort by contacting their representatives and urging them to support and co-sponsor H.R. 3202.  Please contact NACWA’s This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at (202) 533-1823 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at (202) 833-4655 for more information about these important legislation efforts.

Funding Network Call Urges Utilities to Connect with Local Editorial Boards

The Clean Water Funding Network recently hosted a conference call featuring Ernst-Ulrich Franzen, associate editorial page editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who said “it’s in your interest to get to know your editorial boards.” Utility leaders and others in the clean water community were encouraged to set up meetings and become acquainted with members of the editorial board of their local newspapers.  During the call, one of a monthly series focused on different outreach and communications techniques, it was emphasized that building a relationship with the editorial board will go a long way to ensure members of the media understand the challenges clean water agencies face in meeting their water quality objectives in the face of rising costs and declining revenues.

NACWA President Kevin Shafer, executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, also spoke and said having a relationship with the reporters or editorial board helps “so when an issue arises, they have the background and baseline to work from when writing the story.”  He urged those in the clean water community to work with their local media to ensure they understand the issues.  Representatives from other member agencies also chimed in and discussed ways they had worked with their local newspapers and said it was important to keep up the relationship or forge new ones as staff changes. 

Next Call to Focus on State Trust Fund-Type Initiatives
The next call will be Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. EDT and will focus on state clean water trust fund-type initiatives.  Our guest will be Richard Fox, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. He will speak about Pennsylvania voters' approval of a $400 million water bond referendum that appeared on last November's ballot. We’ll be exploring how this state initiative got started, who championed it, who opposed it, and how it is being administered.  Please contact NACWA's This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at (202) 833-3280 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you plan to join the call.

SRF Reauthorization Bill Could Go to Senate Floor for Vote This Week

The Water Infrastructure Financing Act (S. 1005), legislation that would reauthorize the clean water and drinking water state revolving funds (SRFs), could be voted on as early as today. NACWA and other members of the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) met with Democratic and Republican staff of the Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Friday to discuss strategy for the bipartisan bill.  Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chair and ranking member of the EPW Committee, are committed to moving S.1005 to the Senate Floor before the August Recess, possibly this week. NACWA and WIN are reaching out to key Senators to encourage their support for the bill. Clean water agencies and their supporters are urged to contact their senators and ask them to support this important bill. The bill provides approximately $40 billion for the clean water and drinking water state revolving loan funds, as well as grant programs for sewer overflow control and Great Lakes funding. The bill also updates the allocation formula for distributing the funds to the states. Should the bill go to the Senate floor it would mark the most progress on Clean Water Act reauthorization legislation since 1987 when the loan program was created. If the Senate approves the bill, which appears likely to occur given the broad support for this legislation, it would then proceed to conference for reconciliation with the House-passed CWSRF funding bill. A remaining issue is whether Senate passage will force the Energy & Commerce Committee to introduce and pass a DWSRF funding bill quickly so that the legislation can proceed to the President for signature. In the unlikely event that the Energy & Commerce Committee chooses not to proceed, another alternative would be for the Senate and House to agree to simply separate out and send to the President the clean water portion of the bill for signature.

$60-Billion Water Trust Fund Bill Introduced; NACWA Testifies at Hearing

Legislation that would establish a clean water trust fund, paid for by fees and various types of products, was introduced July 14 by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho),  and Thomas E. Petri (R-Wis.).  The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 3202) would assess fees on a broad base of industries that use water and contribute to water pollution.  NACWA participated in a press conference with Blumenauer, LaTourette, and Petri as well as with several members of the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), which, like NACWA, has also been instrumental in generating support for the bill.  Later in the day, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on the opportunity and challenges of a water trust fund.  Tom Walsh, engineer-director of the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District, a NACWA member agency in Massachusetts, testified in support of the bill on behalf of NACWA, saying that a trust fund was needed to address the infrastructure funding crisis and pointing out that his own utility has had to raise rates 450 percent since 2000 to cover the debt service on upgrades to its treatment plant.  “We must remove water infrastructure investment from the realm of uncertain annual appropriations and focus on a dedicated funding stream,” he said.

Introduction of the bill comes on the heels of a report released recently by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyzing revenue sources that could raise up to $12 billion per year.  These sources include a 4 cent per container excise tax on water-based beverages; a 3-percent excise tax on items disposed of in wastewater, such as toothpaste, cosmetics, toilet paper and cooking oil; a 0.5-percent excise tax on pharmaceutical products; and a 0.15-percent tax on the incomes of corporations with profits of over $4 million a year. 

GAO Report on Clean Water Trust Fund Highlights Infrastructure Funding Needs

A report, Clean Water Infrastructure: A Variety of Issues Need to be Considered When Designing a Clean Water Trust Fund, released June 29 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) underscores the message that our nation’s clean water infrastructure is in dire need of repair and will require significant funding to ensure continued strong protections for public health and the environment.  The report states, “Although federal, state, and local governments invest billions of dollars annually in wastewater infrastructure—a total of about $40 billion in 2006—EPA and others have estimated that current spending levels may not be adequate to cover the costs of maintaining and replacing pipes, treatment plants, and other parts of this infrastructure. According to EPA’s estimates, a potential gap of about $150 billion to $400 billion between projected future infrastructure needs and current levels of spending could occur over the next decade.” Clearly, these figures are consistent with the estimates previously put forward by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), and others which have estimated the clean water infrastructure funding gap at $300-$500 billion over 20 years. NACWA has advocated on behalf of a trust fund for a number of years and has testified before Congress about the funding crisis and the efforts of municipalities to meet their clean water needs.

Public Agency Members Urged to Share Experiences on Stimulus Funding

A number of NACWA members and other public clean water agencies have expressed concerns about the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s (ARRA or stimulus package) $4 billion wastewater infrastructure funding program.  In particular, these concerns have focused on the impacts of the “Buy American” provisions on public agency efforts to get projects moving quickly.  NACWA would like to hear about issues related to stimulus funding and would like public agencies to “Share Your Stimulus Story” in an online survey.   EPA has also requested anecdotal information regarding the difficulties and successes clean water agencies are experiencing in obtaining funds set aside in the stimulus for green infrastructure and environmentally innovative projects.  In line with these requests, NACWA urges its members to continue to provide regular updates on their experiences, both good and bad, in obtaining ARRA funds and/or implementing ARRA projects through the survey.  Providing these updates is critical to NACWA’s advocacy efforts on your behalf. 

House Appropriations Subcommittee Approves $2.4 Billion for CWSRF

Funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) would triple in fiscal year (FY) 2010 from the previous year under an EPA budget bill approved June 10 by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.  The bill, with $2.3 billion for the CWSRF, up from $689 million in FY 2009, now goes to the full committee for consideration.  Rep. Norman Dicks (D-Wash.) justified the funding increase, saying that “Every American deserves safe water to drink, and it is vital that we clean up our waterways.  It is time we get serious about this problem.”

Although the appropriation was slightly less than the $2.4 billion requested by the Obama administration, the subcommittee did increase FY 2010 funding for Great Water Bodies Management to $667 million, up from $154 million in FY 2009 and more than the $572 administration request.   Overall, the subcommittee approved $10.57 billion for EPA in FY 2010, up from $7.64 billion last year.  NACWA members and other public clean water agencies are encouraged to contact their members of Congress and urge them to support these funding levels.

Memorial Day Recess Provides Opportunity to Urge Support for SRF Bill

Congress adjourns for its Memorial Day recess May 25-31, and members typically return to their home states and districts, providing an excellent opportunity for those in the clean water community to contact them and urge their support for legislation reauthorizing the state revolving fund (SRF) program. The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved the Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2009 (S. 1005) last week reauthorizing the clean water state revolving fund (SRF) and drinking water SRF at $38.5 billion over five years.  This breaks down to $20 billion for the CWSRF and $15 billion for the DWSRF for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 with another $1.8 billion in grants over five years to address sewer overflows.  Up to 30 percent of the CWSRF money can be used as additional subsidization in the form of grants for principal forgiveness for disadvantaged communities or to promote the use of green infrastructure under the bill.  Another $5 million would be authorized for a new EPA program to provide training and technical assistance to utilities on effective utility management in line with the joint EPA-water sector effort on Effective Utility Management.  The House already passed its version of the bill, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1262), in March reauthorizing the CWSRF at $13.8 billion over fiscal years 2010 through 2014.  NACWA strongly supports this legislation and urges its members and others in the clean water community to contact their senators about supporting the bill.  Please visit the Clean Water Funding Network blog to share your experiences.

Senate EPW Committee Approves $38.5 Billion SRF Reauthorization

In a major victory for the clean water community, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee reported out May 14 the Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2009 (S. 1005), which would reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) at $38.5 billion over five years.  Introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the EPW Committee; James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member; Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the EPW Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife; and Mike Crapo (D-Idaho), ranking member of the subcommittee, the bill provides $20 billion for the CWSRF and $15 billion for the DWSRF, as well as $1.85 billion in grants to address combined sewer overflows (CSOs); and $250 million for watershed improvements, among other things.  NACWA and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) strongly supported the bill and are pleased that it provides incentives for states to use 30 percent of the SRF money as grants for disadvantaged communities and to promote the use of green infrastructure to address stormwater control.  The committee also adopted an amendment directing EPA to review for possible revision its outdated 1997 document Combined Sewer Overflows-Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development, which has been placing unrealistic burdens on cash-strapped communities without sufficient consideration of environmental benefit.

Those in the clean water community are strongly encouraged to contact their senators and urge them to support S. 1005 and to push for it to go to the Senate floor for a vote quickly.

NACWA Applauds Clean Water Funding in Economic Recovery Package

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) applauds Congress for passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is especially pleased that it contains $4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).  This funding will help create or support thousands of good jobs working to ensure clean and safe water and revitalizing a sagging economy.  Moreover, allowing at least 50 percent of the funding to go out as grants will help speed the process of getting this money out to cash-strapped communities as quickly as possible.

President Obama signed the bill into law on Tuesday Feb. 17, and now the focus turns to implementation.  Public utility members that are participating in the recovery effort are encouraged to utilize this website as an on-line forum to share information on what is working/not working with regard to the distribution of recovery package funds.

Economic Recovery Package Represents a Good Start toward a Sustainable Local-State-Federal Financial Partnership

While municipalities identified more than $17 billion in ready-to-go wastewater infrastructure projects, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) funding included in the recovery package is an important step in re-establishing the critical federal, state, and local partnership needed to ensure we can continue to provide vital clean water services.  By working toward passage of stimulus funding, Congress is taking a critical step in recognizing that the nation’s aging water and wastewater infrastructure is in desperate need of resources to help our communities continue to provide strong environmental and public health protections while ensuring that we remain economically strong in the future.  

However, the job is far from over.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) estimate a $300-$500 billion funding gap over 20 years between what is needed to upgrade and repair the nation’s wastewater infrastructure and how much is being spent.  

There are several ideas that key Congressional leaders have raised to create a sustainable solution to the funding gap, including a clean water trust fund, a capital budget, or a national infrastructure bank will be needed to ensure clean water agencies can continue to provide their critical environmental and public health services. This website and its partners will continue to follow these critical efforts in the 111th Congress and around the country

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