A coalition of national water sector leaders hosted an informational briefing on Dec. 10 for Congress to highlight the urgency of investing in America’s aging water infrastructure systems and the critical role of the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds (SRFs).
Titled, “Strong Infrastructure, Smart Spending: Investing in Affordable, Reliable Water,” the panelists represented all sectors in the water infrastructure financing: from the state-level authorities that distribute funding, to the local governments and utilities that utilize this funding to support their communities, to contractors and engineers delivering the projects supported by these programs. The featured panelists were:
- Kishia L. Powell, General Manager and CEO, WSSC Water
- Scott Berry, US Water Alliance
- Zachary Schafer, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Maryland Department of the Environment
- Tad Bohannon, CEO, Central Arkansas Water
- Dan Buckley, Mid-Atlantic Pre-Construction Executive, Garney Construction
- Amy Stevens, Watershed Restoration Division Chief, Montgomery County (Md.) Department of Environmental Protection
With the nation facing an estimated $3.4 trillion in infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, and billions more required for operations and maintenance, the discussion focused on sustained, reliable federal investment to ensure safe, affordable water access.
“Utility construction companies and their employees are building and repairing the underground infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water, removes wastewater, and contributes to a healthy and prosperous community,” said Zack Perconti, Chief Advocacy Officer of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA). NUCA was represented on the panel by Dan Buckley, of Garney Construction. “Briefing members of Congress and their staffs on the importance of government’s part in funding its construction through the SRF program makes it clear that we can’t deliver clean water to tens of millions of Americans without their support.”
SRFs remain one of the most effective federal-to-local infrastructure programs in the country, especially for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. SRF financing routinely reduces the cost of borrowing – often by more than 50 percent – saving communities nearly $1 billion in 2023 alone.
In 2025 alone, combined federal, state, and local water investments totaling $81 billion supported:
- 858,000 jobs
- $68 billion in wages
- $112 billion in GDP, and
- $205 billion in total economic output
Beyond affordability, public health and regulatory compliance, the panel, held Dec. 10 in a centrally located Senate Visitor Center meeting room, discussed how water infrastructure investment drives economic growth and protects public health.
Other organizations involved in the panel discussion were:
- American Public Works Association
- U.S. Water Alliance
- Water Environment Federation
- National Utility Contractors Association
- National Association of Clean Water Agencies
- Clean Water Construction Coalition
- National Association of Counties
- Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturing Association
- Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- National Council of State Legislators
- American Council of Engineering Companies
- WateReuse
- National League of Cities
- California Association of Sanitation Agencies
- American Water Works Association
- U.S. Conference of Mayors
- National Water Resources Association
- Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities
Source: National Utility Contractors Association.
Leave a Reply