The National Association of Water Companies’ (NAWC) Annual Report to Congressional Leaders kicks off with scheduled meetings with elected officials on Capitol Hill. NAWC represents a wide range of private water service industry companies who provide water and wastewater service to nearly one quarter of all water customers in the United States.
NAWC members will talk about the solutions they provide to cities, towns and utilities across the country. Participants will encourage support from Congressional leaders on a number of areas that will spur job creation, promote sustainable business practices and provide incentives for increased partnerships between public and private sectors to provide water and wastewater service to millions of Americans.
“As service providers, our members maintain a shared focus with elected officials: our 74 million customers are their constituents,” said NAWC Executive Director Michael Deane. “We have a common goal to protect public health and water resources for the American people. Following the regulatory guidelines put forth by Congress and the Administration, our members implement the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act and provide quality and reliable water service all day every day.”
Among the ways Congress can lead on water issues, according to NAWC:
• Support the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act (H.R. 537), a bill sponsored by Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ) and 36 of his bipartisan colleagues from across the country, which expands the use and availability of tax-exempt financing for water projects. It is estimated that by removing existing restrictions to this financing could support upwards of 57,000 jobs in 2010;
• Reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Water Infrastructure Financing Act (S.1005) to enable private water service providers to extend much-needed wastewater solutions and service to under-served communities and non-compliant systems; and
• Consider the development of an infrastructure bank that would act as a real bank and encourage public-private partnerships.
NAWC members will be discussing the above positions and more with their elected officials during scheduled meetings March 9 and 10.
