Meeting the water challenges of today and the future will require federal spending as well as new financial models and revenue streams to ensure equity, climate change adaptation and sustainability.
Lawmakers in Congress are currently negotiating spending levels on water systems, and some proposals would include significant cuts. As communities around the U.S. confront aging drinking water infrastructure often unprepared for climate change and population growth, federal sources of financing are more critical than ever.
Building and maintaining water infrastructure, including pipelines, treatment plants, and stormwater and wastewater systems, require substantial financial outlays. Emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals, present additional burdens. Addressing these pollutants requires advanced treatment technologies and comprehensive monitoring, which are expensive to implement and maintain.
Route Fifty
By Chelsea Kolb, Sara Stullken and Sara Hughes
October 18, 2024