America's water systems - for drinking water, irrigation and transportation - are stressed. We have under-invested in our water systems and we are starting to pay the price as more and more drinking water fails to meet federal safety standards.

The needs of America's drinking water systems to replace facilities and comply with federal standards have an annual budget shortfall of $11 billion. And, the shortfall doesn't account for the increased demand that will tax our systems even further in the coming years.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, of the 257 locks on the more than 12,000 miles of inland waterways operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, nearly 50 percent are functionally obsolete. By 2020, that number will increase to 80 percent.

Where do we start?

• Invest in clean drinking water, wastewater management and pollution control by pushing Congress to reauthorize the Clean Water Act’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program and ensure a multiyear investment to help address the backlog of unmet needs.
• Invest in clean water, flood control, and rebuilding our water resource systems through the Water Resources Development Act.

Resources

LIUNA urges support for the Water Resources Development Act. LIUNA.

Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues. Congressional Research Service.

Statement of the Water Resources Coalition. Water Resources Coalition.