The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Group, a coalition of hundreds of companies, governmental agencies, civic organizations and others this week urged Pennsylvania voters to support a $400 million water bond referendum that will appear on the November 4 General Election ballot.

The bond issue referendum was included in Senate Bill 1341, sponsored by Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, passed by the General Assembly in July and signed into law by Gov. Rendell.

Funding for wastewater plant upgrades to meet state and federal clean water mandates, in particular mandates to reduce nutrients and sediment going to the Chesapeake Bay, was a key element of the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan supported by a coalition of 40 environmental, farm, business and local government groups.

The Water and Sewer Systems Assistance Act bond will be used to pay for water and sewer system improvements in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and across the state.

Using the theme "Vote Yes for Clean Water", the Pa-IG is urging voters and other infrastructure allies to support the passage of the referendum through a comprehensive public awareness campaign.

“It is absolutely critical that we approve this bond," said Kelly Lewis, President of TechQuest and a founder of the PA Infrastructure Group. "We currently face a nearly $20 billion backlog in maintenance and upgrade work at our state's many water and sewage treatment facilities, and these systems are essential to Pennsylvania's future economic health and growth."

Lewis said the problem is even more widespread in Pennsylvania because there are nearly 2,200 water systems and 1,100 sewage treatment systems, many now over a century old. The age of the systems, decades of deferred maintenance and upgrades, and newer, more stringent operating regulations have combined to create a 'perfect storm' of need for Pennsylvania's water and sewer utilities.

"But we prefer to look at it as a 'perfect opportunity' for Pennsylvania," said Lewis. "Approving this bond will ensure the safety and affordability of the state's many water and sewer systems, and helps avoid higher rates being charged to our residents."

Lewis said that the Infrastructure Group was pleased with this year's budget, which allocated $800 million for water and sewer infrastructure capital improvements and placed the $400 million Water Act Bond referendum on the November ballot. "But we still need many more billions to adequately deal with our backlog of water and sewer infrastructure projects," said Lewis.

Formed earlier this year to provide guidance and support to state legislators, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Group is a statewide coalition of more than 300 groups and individuals involved in the infrastructure industry.

Many of the group's recommendations were included in the most recent state budget, and members are currently updating their Infrastructure Agenda for a Fall outreach campaign to legislators and the public.

PA Fair Share For Clean Water Plan

The Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition supports these additional steps needed to help ratepayers and farm families comply with clean water mandates—

· $50 million in direct cost share aid to farmers to install conservation practices ($35 for REAP farm tax credits and $15 million in cost share grants);

· $10 million to county conservation district to expand technical assistance to farmers;

· $10 million to restore cuts to the Department of Agriculture budget in farm programs; and

· Reforms to the state’s nutrient credit trading program that will help to make it a viable alternative to provide for both environmental improvements to the Bay and sufficient future sewage capacity for new development.

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees will hold a hearing on nutrient credit trading on September 17. (See separate article.)

The Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition is also working actively to promote voter approval of the $400 million bond issue referendum passed as part of the wastewater infrastructure funding package.

For more information, visit the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan webpage.

Link: State Budget Leaves Farmers Behind, Nutrient Trading Vital

New Budget Supports Wastewater Plants, Farmers Left Behind

$1.2 Billion Water Infrastructure Bills Become Law

9/12/2008