In communities in Florida and across the country, drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvestment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, Florida received only $60 million, a mere 4.3 percent of the $1.4 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.
Original Title
Why Florida Needs Federal Funding for Water Infrastructure
In communities in Florida and across the country, drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvestment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, Florida received only $60 million, a mere 4.3 percent of the $1.4 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.
In communities in Florida and across the country, drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvestment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, Florida received only $60 million, a mere 4.3 percent of the $1.4 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.
O ur nation’s water infrastructure and economy are bound together. Aiding
the former will help the latter. Unfortunately, these days, both are treading troubled waters. In communities in Florida and across the country, drink- ing water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvest- ment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, Florida received only $60 million, a mere 4.3 percent of the $1.4 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.1
As the troubles with our water infrastructure mount, the
country’s economy slides deeper into recession. Florida’s January 2009 unemployment rate reached 8.6 percent, or 800,500 people, up from 5.0 percent a year earlier. About one in 12 people in the labor force are now unem- ployed.2
Investing now in water and sewer systems to gener-
ate solid economic growth can lead the state out of the recession. Every federal dollar invested in infrastructure yields a $1.59 return to our states.3 The National Utility Contractors Association estimates that for every $1 bil- lion spent on water infrastructure, nearly 27,000 jobs are created.4
The economic stimulus legislation passed by Congress in
February 2009 provides more money to water infrastruc- ture than the country has seen in recent years, but this 31 fundable projects at a total cost of $268.7 million.5 In one-time allotment cannot cure the problems plaguing 2008, the state received only $36.8 million in federal many communities. In fact, the bill provides water and funding6 — enough to finance 13.7 percent of its needs. sewer systems with less than one-third of what the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency estimates we should spend Federal contributions to Florida’s drinking water funding each year just to maintain them. efforts have decreased by 18.5 percent since the Drink- ing Water SRF was implemented in fiscal 1997 and 39.3 Florida’s Water Infrastructure Funding Gap: percent when adjusted for inflation.7 Florida’s water needs outpace its current ability to fund projects by a large margin. For the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, which goes toward wastewater infrastructure, the state’s For the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) most recent Intended Use Plan lists 140 projects at a total program, the state’s most recent Intended Use Plan lists cost of $1.1 billion.8 In 2008, the state received $23.0 mil- systems. It also should ensure that funds be made available for research and implementation of green infrastructure and conservation practices.
National Infrastructure Bank: Related to the
trust fund is a proposed national infrastructure bank to raise and distribute the money necessary to upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems, highways and other underpinnings of our nation’s prosperity. Policy-makers should strictly limit private sector involvement in water infrastructure to financ- ing only. The public should maintain ownership and control of public water and sewer utilities because it does a far better job of management and operation. lion in federal funding9 — enough to finance 2.1 percent Endnotes of its needs. 1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. “Tentative distribution of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund appropriation for fiscal year 2008.” May 19, 2008; U.S. Federal contributions to Florida’s wastewater funding Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. “FY 2008 efforts have decreased by 66.8 percent since the Clean Clean Water State Revolving Fund Title VI Allotments.” January Water SRF was fully implemented in fiscal 1991 and 79.0 28, 2008; Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan for percent when adjusted for inflation.10 Use in Fiscal Year 2008 Capitalization Grant.” 2008 at exhibit 1; Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “Water Job Creation: Fully addressing Florida’s currently Pollution Control SRF Priority List FY 2009.” July 17, 2008 at 1-10. listed water needs of $1.4 billion would spur 36,897 2 United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. employment opportunities, according to National Utility [Press Release]. “Regional and state employment and Contractors Association estimates for job creation from unemployment: January 2009.” March 11, 2009. 3 Schwartz, Bernard L. and Schwenninger, Sherle R. “A Public water infrastructure investments. That could put back to Infrastructure–-Led Economic Recovery Program.” December work one out of every 20 unemployed people in the state. 4, 2008; Zandi, Mark. Chief economist and co-founder, Moody’s Economy.com. Testimony on Economic Stimulus For Small Business: A Look Back and Assessing Need For Additional Relief. Water Quality: According to Florida’s 2008 Integrated U.S. House Committee on Small Business. July 24, 2008. Water Quality Assessment, 31 percent of the state’s river 4 National Utility Contractors Association. [Press Release]. “New miles, 47 percent of its lake waters and 96 percent of its CWC Report Demonstrates Immediate Economic Impact of Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Investment?” January 28, estuaries are impaired.11 2009. 5 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Beach Closings: A report by the Natural Resources State Revolving Fund, 2008 at exhibit 1. 6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, May 19, 2008. Defense Council shows that Florida experienced 3,139 7 Ibid; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. beach advisory days lasting six weeks or fewer in 2007, a “Distribution of DWSRF funds.” June 23, 2006; Sahr, Robert C. 17 percent increase from the number in 2006. Aging and “Inflation conversion factors for years 1774 to estimated 2019.” Oregon State University, Political Science Department. January poorly designed sewage and stormwater systems cause 16, 2009. many beach closures.12 8 Florida Department of Environmental Protection. July 17, 2008 at 1-10. 9 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, January 28, 2008. Legislative Solutions: A comprehensive, long-term 10 Ibid; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. solution is a dedicated source of public funding for water “Clean Water State Revolving Fund Allotments.” April 4, 2007; infrastructure. This would help communities in Florida Sahr, 2009. 11 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division and across America keep their water clean, safe and af- of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Bureau of fordable. It would unburden overtaxed state and mu- Watershed Management. ”Integrated Water Quality Assessment nicipal governments of the cost of water infrastructure for Florida: 2008 305(b) Report and 303(d) List Update.” October 2008 at 66. repairs. Such an investment also would create employ- 12 Dorfman, Mark and Kristen Sinclair Rosselot. National Resources ment opportunities and give our economy a much-needed Defense Council. “Testing the Waters 2008: A Guide to Water boost. Two legislative solutions exist. Quality at Vacation Beaches.” National Resources Defense Council. 2008 at 76.