WEF and AWWA petition Congress to support water programs

Utility leaders approach Congress in more than 400 meetings during first joint Water Matters! Fly-In

The American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation today combined forces to push for smart approaches to water infrastructure finance and regulation through more than 400 meetings on Capitol Hill. The associations brought more than 170 delegates from water, wastewater and stormwater utilities in 49 states and Puerto Rico for the tenth Water Matters! Fly-In.

“Assuring reliable and safe water resources and infrastructure must be a top national priority,” said AWWA president Joseph Mantua. “Our water and wastewater systems are critical to the protection of public health and safety, our economy, and the quality of life.” 

“Together, WEF and AWWA represent a strong, united voice for water,” said WEF president Jeanette Brown. “More than ever, our members recognize that the water sector is not easily defined as water or wastewater. Our conversations this week will remind elected leaders the role that water infrastructure plays in assuring clean water and the economic vitality of our communities.”  Water professionals will ask Congress for its support on several key issues, including:

 Improve water infrastructure finance tools.

  • Support the creation of a new water infrastructure finance mechanism to provide low-cost capital to water utilities needing to invest in infrastructure.
  • Support reform and capitalization of state revolving loan fund programs for drinking water and wastewater.
  • Remove water projects from the state volume cap on Private Activity Bonds.

 Renew the federal partnership in meeting clean and drinking water challenges.

  • Renew the federal commitment to help states and localities meet their obligations to provide clean and safe water by funding and strengthening Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs.
  • Fund Public Water System Supervision grants, State Clean Water Act program grants, and the Clean Water Act Section 319 (nonpoint source) program.
  • Fund the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program to provide adequate monitoring data on which to make management decisions.

 Support scientific processes when setting drinking water standards

  • Support methodical scientific approaches already contained in the Safe Drinkinng Water Act for determining which substances to regulate in drinking water.


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