Industry groups are offering modest praise for the funds allocated for water infrastructure in the $825-billion economic stimulus package, saying the funding levels are a good start. “It’s a huge increase over what’s been appropriated in the past,” says Karen Lapsovic, director of tax, fiscal affairs and infrastructure finance at the Associated General Contractors. But the same industry groups are quick to point out that much more is needed to even to begin to fix the nation’s ailing water infrastructure.
Using existing formulas, the bill would provide $6 billion for the clean water state revolving fund (SRF) and $2 billion for the drinking water SRF. Half of the funds in the clean water SRF would be provided to the states as loans; the other $3 billion would be disbursed as grants. A total of 20% of the state grants would go for projects to address water-efficiency goals, improve energy efficiency or mitigate stormwater runoff through green infrastructure projects.