The U.S. needs to invest an estimated $1 trillion over the next 25 years to keep the country’s drinking water, sewer, and wastewater treatment systems up to date. But funding bills from the House and Senate for fiscal year 2019 are not nearly enough for overdue upgrades.
You can help by calling your Senators and urging them to increase funding for clean water infrastructure.
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Most U.S. drinking water and sewer systems have been in operation for 75–100 years or more — far longer than their expected lifespans.
That antiquated infrastructure has a cost: More than 21 million Americans in 2015, about 6 percent of the people in the country, depended on community water systems that violated the Safe Drinking Water Act. Rural and low-income counties were the most vulnerable.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) two State Revolving Funds, one for clean water, one for drinking water, as well as funds for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, provide much-needed financing for water systems to replace crumbling pipes, build new water storage, and upgrade sewer plants. The money is crucial for rural water utilities, some of which are so underfunded that residents volunteer their time to run them.
The Senate 2019 EPA appropriations would continue 2018 funding levels for the two State Revolving Funds and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. But the House EPA appropriations bill would cut the State Revolving Funds by a total of $300 million, shrinking them to $2.6 billion.
The Senate’s appropriations bill is a good start, but communities around the nation need far more to address their water infrastructure needs. When the House and Senate appropriations bills are reconciled for a final bill for the President to sign, there’s an opportunity for appropriations to our water infrastructure funds to increase. Communities nationwide need the maximum funds possible to keep our aging drinking water and sewer systems working.
This week, please call your Senators and urge them to increase funding for clean water infrastructure. Here are some talking points to get you started:
- My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a resident of [ZIP CODE] in [STATE].
- I am calling because I would like Congress to increase funding for the EPA’s State Revolving Funds and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.
- I appreciate the Senate rejecting cuts to EPA’s budget as well as anti-environmental riders, but I think more can be done to ensure safe drinking water.
- Most of the nation’s water infrastructure is 75 to 100 years old; far longer than its expected lifespan.
- Community water systems for 21 million Americans violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2015.
- We need to invest in clean water infrastructure.
- Please support greater funding for both of the State Revolving Funds and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.
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