INSIDE WASHINGTON/Locals call for federal support on water bill

Facing a $23 billion annual shortfall that could hamper efforts to maintain the integrity of the nation’s water systems, city and county leaders are urging Congress and President Bush to quickly pass comprehensive legislation to bridge the funding gap. Local governments are calling for passage of legislation that would create a five-year, $57 billion plan that would pump federal dollars back to city and county governments to help them pay for myriad water infrastructure needs such as modernizing treatment plants and replacing old piping.

“As the federal government addresses the nation’s $5.7 trillion surplus, I am hopeful that investment in America’s water infrastructure will be a priority for both Congress and the new administration,” says Detroit Mayor and National League of Cities President Dennis Archer.

King County (Wash.) Council Member Jane Hague notes that county governments are “facing unprecedented financial needs” in the maintenance of their water systems and risk not meeting those needs unless the federal government steps in to help shoulder some of the costs. “On our own, we simply will not be able to keep pace,” warns Hague, who also is president of the National Association of Counties.

Promoted by the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), a coalition of water suppliers, local government organizations, environmentalists, labor unions and construction trade groups, the legislation would provide credit assistance, grants, loans and loan subsidies to municipalities to help pay for water infrastructure costs. It is modeled on two similar infrastructure improvement bills developed to help maintain and upgrade the nation’s highways and airports. In those two separate efforts, Congress approved $215 billion for the Transportation Efficiency Act and $40 billion for the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century.

“Water 21 is the obvious next chapter in the Congressional efforts to repair America’s infrastructure,” says Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R — N.Y.), co-chair of the House Water Infrastructure Caucus. “We cannot go backward on clean and safe water.”

Elected officials are not alone in calling for swift passage of this legislation. Groups such as the American Coal Ash Association, the Laborers’ International Union of North America and the National Society of Professional Engineers also are supporting the measure.

According to local government estimates, addressing water infrastructure needs nationwide for the next two decades will run $1 trillion. The money is needed for upgrades to treatment and wastewater plants and piping.

Archer is quick to point out that the additional funding sought by WIN will not replace money already being spent by local governments. “No one should lose sight of the fact that a renewed federal investment, while of enormous value in helping to meet critical local infrastructure needs, would be in addition to the $60 billion invested annually in these systems by local taxpayers and ratepayers,” he says.

However, if Congress fails to act on the issue, utilities will be forced to pass on those expenses to ratepayers, and that could mean a doubling or tripling of water bills, according to a report recently released by WIN. The group warns that access to clean drinking water could be jeopardized for some people if rates were to increase.

“An investment in our nation’s water infrastructure is an investment in our public health,” says Jack Hoffbuhr, executive director of the American Water Works Association, which has been working to raise awareness about the issue. “The WIN proposal is a sensible place to start work on closing the investment gap. We must ensure that our investment will reach all communities in need. Equipping communities with the resources to improve their water infrastructure merits Congress’ support.”

The author is Washington correspondent for American City & County.