Another voice / Clean water
Nation needs trust fund to protect its lakes and rivers
By Wenonah Hauter
Updated: 10/26/07 6:54 AM
October marks the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, one of America’s most important laws for protecting the environment and human health.
While we’ve made tremendous progress since 1972, over the past few years we’ve begun to lose ground because of insufficient water infrastructure funding. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2000 Water Quality Needs Survey, 77 percent of New York’s lake waters are impaired, along with 37 percent of the state’s river miles. A total 41 percent of all waters do not support fish consumption, and nearly all of New York’s Great Lakes waterways are seriously hampered.
Despite these disturbing statistics, federal funding for clean water has become an annual political battle. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that we are falling short on water infrastructure spending by a whopping $22 billion per year. Overall federal government contribution to total clean water spending has shrunk dramatically, from 78 percent in 1978 to just 3 percent today. Fiscal year 2007 saw the Clean Water State Revolving Fund — which administers money to states for clean water projects — funded at some of the lowest levels in history, and for 2008 the president has requested states be given a mere $688 million, the least funding since the program’s inception.
Without sufficient federal money, states must pick and choose from often hundreds of needed maintenance and improvement projects. Based on current budget projections, New York will have only 55 percent of 2007’s resources available for 2008 spending. The state’s annual list presents 148 projects costing $3.892 billion — more than 53 times its expected federal allotment — while its long-term projections count 793 projects at nearly $11 billion.
While New York is making tremendous efforts to meet clean water requirements, the problem is too big to be handled without federal assistance. Given the fickle year-to-year funding and the urgency of the clean water troubles, a new solution is needed. We need to plan ahead and create a dedicated source of public funding so that communities across America can keep their water clean, safe and affordable.
A clean water trust fund would provide a steady, reliable and equitable source of funding. By sidestepping the contentious appropriations process, a trust fund would safeguard our clean water infrastructure, our environment and our economy. Our country already has federal trust funds established for our highways, harbors and wildlife habitats. Clean water, an essential public resource for all Americans, certainly warrants federal support and deserves the same protection.
For the sake of New York and our nation, we need to secure the protection of clean water that keeps our communities livable, our lifestyles possible and our industries viable. Our water infrastructure needs help now. It is time for a trust fund for clean and safe water.
Wenonah Hauter is executive director of Food & Water Watch.
Distributed withour profit to ESA Great Lakes District members for environmental education.
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