Clean Water Current

NACWA has continued working with the media to highlight the need for greater federal investment in the public water sector. Below, we have selected a number of articles that have resulted from this effort.

On March 23, Bloomberg published a story titled, Water Utilities Eye More Permanent Aid After Temporary Relief. In it, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox is quoted saying, “I believe that water is really going to a play a key role in this administration.” Elsewhere in the article, NACWA Board Member and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District CEO, Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, shared, “At the end of the day, we have a huge need to basically rebuild the nation’s wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water infrastructure, and we have to be real about that.”

On March 17, Roll Call published a story titled, Long Ignored, Water Systems Are Getting Attention on the Hill. This story tracks the rise in proposed legislation and hearings in Congress. David Denard, Director of Environmental Services for Jefferson County, Alabama and a member of NACWA’s Board, was quoted, “You notice when the electricity goes off, and you notice if the water doesn’t work. But you don’t necessarily notice when you have issues with your sewer systems, because it’s all buried.” This article is an example of a successful collaboration between NACWA and its members speaking with members of the press.

On March 16, the Engineering News-Record published a story titled, DeFazio Introduces $50B for Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure. The story reported on proposed legislation, strongly supported by NACWA, to substantially increase funding levels for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. In it, NACWA Managing Director of Government Affairs, Kristina Surfus, shared, “This clean water authorization package is a great first step, setting the stage for significantly higher appropriations.”

On March 16, the Bond Buyer published a story titled, Bipartisan Bill Would Provide $40 Billion of Water Loans. In it, the House of Representatives’ proposed reauthorization of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is detailed. NACWA’s Legislative Director, Jason Isakovic, is quoted as saying, “We hope that these pieces of legislation are included in any comprehensive bill in any form that provides the highest level of funding possible for clean water utilities, especially in the form of direct grants.”

If you would like to discuss NACWA’s media presence further, please contact David Zielonka, NACWA’s Manager of Media and Communications.