This week, when Pennsylvanians went to the polls, they were asked to do more than elect a new President. They were also asked to make an investment in clean water--and they answered with a resounding “Yes!”, according to the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition.

Voters approved a $400 million bond referendum to help defray some of the costs of needed water and sewer system improvements.

"Pennsylvanians from different parts of the state and from all partyaffiliations overwhelmingly chose to create new jobs and make an importantdown payment on our economic future and the quality of life in ourcommunities," said Gov. Rendell. "Our water and sewer systems -- as well asother critical components of our infrastructure -- are in need ofsubstantial investments to ensure quality, dependable services that willposition our economy to grow.

"Our citizens and businesses expect a reliable supply of water,dependable sewage service and safe roads and bridges. If we cannot providethese services, you can be sure citizens will leave and employers willclose their doors."

Many of Pennsylvania’s 2,200 drinking water systems and 1,060 wastewater systems are aging and in serious need of repair or must be updated to meet new clean water standards. These improvements will be expensive. Estimates by the Governor’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force put the statewide price tag at roughly $36.5 billion.

“We want to thank Pennsylvania voters for supporting clean water with an overwhelming 62 percent approval rate,” said Matt Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Office Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “These funds, together with the $800 million approved by the General Assembly and Gov. Rendell in July, will provide $1.2 billion to water and wastewater systems to clean up watersheds throughout the state and help restore the Chesapeake Bay.”

“This was truly a victory for clean water and helping our water and sewage treatment systems meet state and federal clean water mandates,” said John Brosious, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association. “This downpayment on clean water will help reduce costs for many drinking and wastewater system ratepayers across the Commonwealth, facing the prospects of rates doubling or tripling over the next few years.”

“The job of cleaning up our watersheds is not finished with this successful vote, however. Funding infrastructure improvements is only half the battle,” said Robert J. Fisher of the Pennsylvania Builders Association. “We need to do much more to fund farm conservation projects that reduce nutrients going into our rivers and streams, and we must reform the state’s nutrient credit trading program so that it is a viable alternative to ensure that necessary environmental improvements to the Chesapeake Bay can be made while allowing for critically needed future economic growth.”

“Almost 2 million Pennsylvanians voted to support Clean Water across Pennsylvania. This is a great building block for the billions of dollars we need to invest in Pennsylvania infrastructure,” said Kelly Lewis, President of TechQuest Pennsylvania and a co-founder of the PA Infrastructure Group.“Pennsylvania is one of the largest and most important economies in the world. To attract and retain our globally-competitive companies and organizations, and our world-class workforce, we need the best infrastructures. Clean Water is an essential ingredient for Pennsylvania’s future economic health and growth.”

A diverse group representing farmers, environmentalists, local officials, and members of the building community - called the Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition – has been advocating for just such funding to help communities, ratepayers, and farmers get the help they need to reduce nutrient pollution from wastewater plants, encourage the installation of farm conservation practices throughout Pennsylvania, and preserve economic opportunity for Pennsylvania’s families and businesses. Without addressing both sources of pollution, Pennsylvania has no chance of meeting federal and state clean water mandates.

The Fair Share For Clean Water Coalition supports taking these additional steps to help address Pennsylvania’s remaining clean water issues:

-- 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;

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

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

-- $10 million to restore cuts to the Department of Agriculture budget in farm programs.

The Coalition includes over 45 farm and conservation groups, businesses, and local government entities, including Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Pennsylvania Builders Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.

For more information, visit the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition website.

NewsClips: $400 Million Clean Water Referendum Passes

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11/7/2008