FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dennis S. DayTuesday, February 13, 2001 (703) 837-5310
GROUPS CALL FOR NEW INVESTMENT IN AMERICAâS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Washington, D.C. ö Congress should pass legislation this year to renew the nationâs commitment to clean and safe water, says a new report from the Water Infrastructure Network, a non-partisan coalition of over 30 organizations including the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
In the report released today, the network calls for a five-year, $57 billion federal investment in drinking water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure to replace aging pipes, upgrade treatment systems, and continue to protect public health and the environment.
ãEvery year, thousands of antiquated water systems break down because of the lack of funding to replace them. In addition, many metropolitan water treatment facilities are overburdened posing an even larger problem in protecting these communities against health hazards associated with such derelict systems. Providing this nation with clean and healthy water is directly linked to the funding spent on water infrastructure programs,ä said Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC Executive Vice President and CEO and a member of the EPA Transition Advisory Team.
The report, called Water Infrastructure Now, says the funding increase is urgently needed to help close a $23 billion per year gap between infrastructure needs and current spending. Nearly $11.5 billion per year over five years is needed. States would receive the funds and in turn offer grants and loans to local agencies.
Sandherr said, ãThis report only confirms AGCâs position on the need for infrastructure investment. We look forward to working with Congress to solve this critical problem and we were especially heartened that Christine Todd Whitman, new EPA Administrator, cited investment in water infrastructure as a top priority of the new administration during her confirmation hearings.ä
AGC is one of more than thirty organizations that have endorsed the Water Infrastructure Now recommendations. The Water Infrastructure network is a non-partisan coalition of local elected officials, drinking water and wastewater service providers, environmental groups, labor unions, and construction and engineering professionals.
The Associated General Contractors of America is the largest and oldest national construction trade association, founded in 1918. AGC represents more than 33,000 firms, including 7,500 of Americaâs leading general contractors, and 12,000 specialty-contracting firms. Over 14,000 service providers and suppliers are also associated with AGC, through a nationwide network of chapters. Visit the AGC website at www.agc.org.
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