Municipal and utility managers are well aware of the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act (the Stimulus Bill), which President Obama signed into law on Feb. 17. They know it provides funding for critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects, especially “shovel-ready” projects that can help create jobs quickly. But many do not know that these funds in some cases can be used to help operate and maintain the new or rehabilitated infrastructure created by stimulus projects. Specifically, certain equipment purchases and the manpower to support new or modernized facilities may qualify as “shovel-ready” initiatives under the terms of the act. Cities,
