Guest Columns

In April, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) member Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and many Democratic colleagues introduced the Testing, Removal, and Updated Evaluations of Lead Everywhere in America for Dramatic Enhancements that Restore Safety to Homes, Infrastructure, and Pipes Act of 2016 or theRead More

In February, Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced legislation, S. 2606, the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act to spur capital investment and to ensure the reliability and safety of the nation’s water infrastructure. Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) and Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.) have also introduced the same bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last week, U. S. Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said they would pursue legislation that would pay up to $400 million, matching dollar-for-dollar state investments, for replacing lead service lines and other water infrastructure repairs in Flint.

Among the proposals highlighted by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo last week was $250 million for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects around the state. Also last week, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a plan to spend $220 million to modernize the state?s aging water system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a survey showing that $271 billion is needed to maintain and improve the nation?s wastewater infrastructure.

Last week, more than 100 finance professionals in the areas of water, wastewater and stormwater gathered in Cleveland, Ohio, for the inaugural Water Finance Conference.

UIM: Water Utility Infrastructure Management, the leading journal of finance and management for water and wastewater professionals, is hosting its first Water Finance Conference beginning tomorrow at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

In January, congressmen reintroduced H.R. 499, the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act of 2015, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition (SWIC), the advocacy group supporting the bill and private activity bond legislation says it expects the bill to be introduced in the Senate in the coming weeks.

In November, SWIC caught up with G. Tracy Mehan III, a member of the U.S. EPA?s Environmental Financial Advisory Board to discuss the future of innovative financing for water and wastewater infrastructure. Read the highlights from his discussion with SWIC.

As we enter the final months of a turbulent election year, when already low-expectations sink even lower, it is important to remember the progress made during the second session of the 113th Congress.