Ask Congress to Include Funding for the Water Utility Sector in Any Major Coronavirus Economic Recovery Package
Please reach out to your Members of Congress and ask that funding for the water utility sector be included in any major coronavirus economic recovery package.
On March 23, WEF and many others in the water sector sent a letter to House and Senate leadership with this request.
As you know, water infrastructure impacts all Americans, as it protects public health and the environment and drives the economy. In fact, closing the investment gap in water infrastructure would generate more than $220 billion in annual economic activity and generate 1.3 million jobs over 10 years. A study by The Water Research Foundation in 2014 found that the national economic benefits of increased funding for water infrastructure had a greater job creating return on investment than tax cuts, increased spending on military, and increased retail spending on general merchandise.
As Congress and the White House begin negotiations on a coronavirus economic recovery package, including support for water infrastructure and the important work wastewater and stormwater utilities are doing in communities would be key to advance the goals of the recovery package. The Department of Homeland Security recently designated wastewater utility employees as critical infrastructure personnel and they must maintain normal work schedules during the crisis.
Wastewater and stormwater utilities operate under very tight budgets under normal circumstances in order not to over burden ratepayers, particularly low-income households. Especially because water utilities across the country are doing their part to keep clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water service flowing and actively help slow and reverse the coronavirus outbreak, it is imperative that wastewater and stormwater systems get additional funding assistance from Congress.
In conclusion, cost-effective infrastructure repair and replacement can have an enormous impact on the quality of life for communities across the U.S., as well as give our nation business and economic advantages in the global marketplace.
Please reach out to your Members of Congress today!
Ask Congress to Include Funding for the Water Utility Sector in Any Major Coronavirus Economic Recovery Package
Please reach out to your Members of Congress and ask that funding for the water utility sector be included in any major coronavirus economic recovery package.
On March 23, WEF and many others in the water sector sent a letter to House and Senate leadership with this request.
As you know, water infrastructure impacts all Americans, as it protects public health and the environment and drives the economy. In fact, closing the investment gap in water infrastructure would generate more than $220 billion in annual economic activity and generate 1.3 million jobs over 10 years. A study by The Water Research Foundation in 2014 found that the national economic benefits of increased funding for water infrastructure had a greater job creating return on investment than tax cuts, increased spending on military, and increased retail spending on general merchandise.
As Congress and the White House begin negotiations on a coronavirus economic recovery package, including support for water infrastructure and the important work wastewater and stormwater utilities are doing in communities would be key to advance the goals of the recovery package. The Department of Homeland Security recently designated wastewater utility employees as critical infrastructure personnel and they must maintain normal work schedules during the crisis.
Wastewater and stormwater utilities operate under very tight budgets under normal circumstances in order not to over burden ratepayers, particularly low-income households. Especially because water utilities across the country are doing their part to keep clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water service flowing and actively help slow and reverse the coronavirus outbreak, it is imperative that wastewater and stormwater systems get additional funding assistance from Congress.
In conclusion, cost-effective infrastructure repair and replacement can have an enormous impact on the quality of life for communities across the U.S., as well as give our nation business and economic advantages in the global marketplace.
Please reach out to your Members of Congress today!