THE SNIDER GROUP - Brandeis Focusing on Solutions magazine

GUEST OPINION“AMERICANS FOR PURE WATER”NUCA leads effort to secure more water/wastewater infrastructure fundingAs the Bush Administration continues to givevery low priority to funding programs thataddress the problem of America’s deterioratingwater and wastewater infrastructure, NUCA(National Utility Contractors Association) isembarking on a new effort to get Americancitizens engaged in the debate. With existingneeds approaching $200 billion, there is nobetter time to mobilize the general public toput pressure on the federal government to fixthe nation’s water and sewer systems. That isexactly what the “Americans for Pure Water”campaign will do.The campaign is the brainchild of theClean Water Council (CWC), a coalition ofsome 30 national organizations representingunderground construction contractors, designprofessionals, manufacturers, suppliers andfinance professionals committed to ensuringthat America has sound, dependable water/wastewater infrastructure.Members of CWC, which NUCA chairs, haveworked tirelessly to keep this issue on the frontburner on Capitol Hill. But given current WhiteHouse opposition and Congressional apathy(federal infrastructure funding has been cut fortwo straight years and is on the chopping blockagain this year), it has become clear that now isthe time to reach outside of the nation’s capitoland into local communities.How you can helpThere are short- and long-term solutionsto the problem of the country’s deterioratinginfrastructure. One is the establishment of awater infrastructure trust fund as a dedicatedsource of revenue for water and sewerprojects. Another is to reauthorize the currentState Revolving Fund (SRF) programs atsubstantially higher funding levels.Rather than replace those efforts, the“Americans for Pure Water” campaign isdesigned to complement them. We want tocreate in the minds of the man, woman andchild on the street a direct connection betweenAmerica’s failing underground infrastructureand growing problems with public health, theenvironment and America’s overall quality oflife. The goal is to get them mad and involved.Lawmakers listen when constituents demandaction. Therefore, as the campaign progresses,organizers will need people to show up andparticipate in public relations activities and eventsdesigned to generate local media attention.Water is the resource we rely on most. It isneeded to sustain not only life, but also thequality of life. Anyone who wants to helpcreate a citizen backlash to the continuingwater/wastewater infrastructure cuts isstrongly encouraged to join the campaign. And,the time to do it is now. To become involved,please contact NUCA’s Government RelationsDepartment at (703) 358-9300. nEben WymanThis Guest Opinion waswritten by Eben Wyman,Vice President of GovernmentRelations for the NationalUtility Contractors Association(NUCA). It’s excerpted froma column that appeared in theMay 2006 issue of UtilityContractor magazine and isprinted here with permission.“Americans for Pure Water” isa promotional effort designedto generate grass-roots supportto improve the nation’s water/wastewater infrastructure. Thecampaign will try to involvethe general public, as wellas industry professionals,to pressure lawmakers toincrease federal funding forwater, sewer and stormdrain projects.