March 8 --
The House voted overwhelmingly to provide $1.7 billion over five years for grants for municipalities to fix their aging sewer infrastructure and reduce overflows.
Bipartisan support resulted in a 367-58 vote in favor of the Water Quality Investment Act of 2007 on March 7.
"The Water Quality Investment Act will directly assist financially strapped municipalities afford necessary sewer system improvements without having to levy local tax rates," said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-NJ, the billīs sponsor.
An association representing wastewater operators applauded the passage, but called for additional action.
·The House has taken an important step toward helping municipal clean water agencies do their jobs of ensuring clean water for all Americans,ö said Ken Kirk, executive director of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. ·But the fight is not over; we urge the Senate to move quickly with authorizing legislation, and then we need Congress to take the next step and fully fund this bill.ö
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Government Accountability Office and the Water Infrastructure Network estimate a funding gap for water and wastewater infrastructure repair and upgrades at $300 billion to $500 billion over 20 years.
To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.wastenews.com