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Rx: A Prescription for Smarter Investment DEFICIT REDUCTION IS front and center in Congress today. Federal, state and local governments argue at length over which budgets to cut and by how much. Both President Obama and Congress have suggested a myriad of ways to trim an estimated $4 trillion from the federal deficit in the next decade, and at the time this magazine went to press, it was expected that Congress would pass a final budget for fiscal year 2011 with $1.6 billion in funding cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 66 percent of which would be taken from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs). While many politicians say that we cannot afford to invest in water infrastructure, some argue that not doing so would be unwise, if not foolish. The needs are acute and the consequences of inaction are real and potentially catastrophic: • The EPA estimates a $298 billion shortfall in clean water infrastructure funding over 20 years and states and communities are reporting $28.6 billion in immediate clean water needs. • The American Society of Civil Engineers gave drinking water/wastewater infrastructure the grades of “D-” in its most recent report card. • Each day, there are approximately 850 water main breaks in North America. • Of the 16,000 sewer systems across the United States, most were built between 1950 and 1970 and are operating beyond their expected useful lives. Certain sections of the U.S. sewer system are more than 200 years old. • The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates 35 percent of cities will face drinking water shortages by 2025, and water lost from leaking pipes ranges from five to 40 percent in some cities. Investment in water/wastewater infrastructure can both boost our lagging economy and make significant progress toward meeting many of the nation’s other needs: SARAH CHIT TENDEN IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WATER DESIGN-BUILD COUNCIL (WDBC). SAR AH HAS WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2006, AND WITH TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON MUNICIPAL WATER-RELATED ISSUES SINCE 2001. dbia.org W/WW REPORT / By Sarah Chittenden summer//2011 25 • Water projects demand the skills of virtually all construction trades including electricians, equipment operators, laborers, pipe fitters, plumbers, concrete workers, carpenters, painters, mechanical equipment workers and others. • A typical $100 million water project requires $25 to $40 million of manufactured equipment such as pumps, electrical equipment, piping and process equipment. This equipment can be ordered immediately and provide jobs for factory workers across the country, many in economically depressed areas. • Up to 20 percent of the energy usage in many communities is used to power water/ wastewater treatment plants. The use of modern treatment technologies, highly efficient pumps, sustainable design principles and LEED® Certified construction can provide significant energy savings. In addition, digester gas in wastewater treatment plants can be converted to clean alternative energy. • Investments in security upgrades can significantly reduce the very real threat of terrorism and ensure the health, safety and quality of life of American families. There are genuine, important infrastructure needs to be addressed. American workers need jobs. American businesses need contracts to supply necessary materials and services. We need to repair our infrastructure while seizing the opportunity to make it more sustainable. It’s time to act—quickly, intelligently and with foresight. For the continued success of our nation, it is imperative that Congress muster the political will to fund water infrastructure. http://www.dbia.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IQ Summer 2011: The Federal Issue

IQ Summer 2011: The Federal Issue

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