Agencies Praise Introduction of Bill to Address America's Water Infrastructure Crisis
Water agencies across America today announced their support for the introduction of bipartisan legislation that will modernize investment in water infrastructure by empowering states to invest in multiple water infrastructure projects.
The Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now (SRF WIN) Act was introduced by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The bill combines the best aspects of state revolving funds (SRFs) with the leveraging power of the Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to make the process easier and more affordable for states to meet their underserved or unmet water infrastructure needs.
According to the Water Systems Council (WSC), the only national nonprofit organization solely focused on household wells and water well systems, the SRF WIN Act can help every American have access to safe drinking water.
“We commend Senators Boozman, Booker, Inhofe and Feinstein for their leadership in bringing a reliable, cost-effective funding solution to states whose citizens lack an affordable water delivery system for their daily needs,” said Richard Mest, WSC president. “The water crisis in America is not just one of supply, but of delivery. With the availability of economical alternatives like water well systems and an affordable funding solution provided by the SRF Win Act, there should be no reason that every American should not have access to safe drinking water.”
In addition, Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association President Patrick J. Hogan says the proposed legislation will stimulate continued health, safety and economic growth in communities across America.
“The investment in water infrastructure will help provide for the continued health, safety and economic growth of our communities,” Hogan said. “As our leaders further deliberate on the specifics of infrastructure spending, it is critical that they look beyond roads and bridges and maintain a focus on water and wastewater infrastructure that generally lies buried, and as such, often out of sight and mind.”
If passed, the SRF WIN Act would:
- Authorize $200 million annually in federal loans over five years to support state revolving fund projects exclusively.
- Encourage states to bundle their projects by waiving the $100,000 application fee and streamlining the application process to a maximum 180-day turnaround.
- Simplify the federal approval process by allowing thousands of vetted drinking water and wastewater projects to receive funding, eliminating the need for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to process thousands of additional loan applications.
- Preserve the successful state revolving funds (SRFs) and the Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program.
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