Facing cuts in federal funding for water and sewer infrastructure after a decade of stable funds, a consortium of construction industry trade groups is planning to go to the boss. The Clean Water Council, a consortium of trade associations led by the National Utility Contractors Association, will step up efforts to raise public awareness of the need for increased investment in water and sewer infrastructure, NUCA officials say.
NUCA announced the initiative at Utility Construction Expo 2006 early this month in San Diego. Until now, the council has been a quiet, “shoeleather lobby,” says Bill Hillman, CEO of Arlington, Va.-based NUCA. But after years during which the Clean Water State Revolving Fund received $1.35 billion in federal money, the appropriation was dropped to $1.1 billion in 2005 and $730 million in 2006. For 2007, the Bush administration is proposing $687.5 million. Under a “branded campaign” dubbed “Americans for Pure Water,” the Clean Water Council will focus efforts on “selected Senate and congressional districts,” to raise public awareness of the issue, Hillman says.