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PA Governor Rendell Says Report Confirms Economic, Environmental Benefits of State's Investments in Water Resources

Posted on: Monday, 30 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today released a report detailing the positive affect Pennsylvania's innovative $1.4 billion investment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is having on the state's economy, the health of its citizens and the protection of its environment.

The report, "Making Pennsylvania's Water Resources Safer," confirms that Governor Rendell's work with the legislature on innovative approaches to financing the construction, upgrading, expansion and rehabilitation of drinking water and wastewater systems through a number of state programs is helping to attract businesses, improve outdoor recreation opportunities and protect the environment. These investments are especially important because federal support for the state's water and wastewater infrastructure continues to decline.

"All aspects of community and economic vitality in Pennsylvania depend on safe, clean, reliable water supplies, and our strategic investments in this most valuable resource are paying big dividends for rural and urban residents alike," Governor Rendell said. "Antiquated and inadequate drinking water and wastewater infrastructure limit economic development and put our communities at a competitive disadvantage. Through strategic investment of our limited financial resources, we can turn this environmental challenge into opportunities for growth and improved quality of life for all residents."

Many of Pennsylvania's 9,723 public drinking water systems and 4,707 wastewater and sewage treatment facilities were built before the passage of modern, clean water regulations. Mandated upgrades and expansions to this critical infrastructure can be prohibitively expensive, and communities are sometimes forced to limit new development due to inadequate capacity.

The report reviews the issues facing Pennsylvania's municipal water systems and provides details of the more than 500 drinking water and wastewater projects that have been funded in 64 counties since 2003. Among the most pressing issues is the need to separate combined sanitary sewer and stormwater systems that overload treatment systems during heavy rain, dumping untreated wastewater into rivers, which can affect the tourism industry by limiting recreational opportunities on Pennsylvania's 83,161 miles of rivers and streams.

More than 10 million people rely on public drinking water systems in Pennsylvania. Over the past two years, the state's public water suppliers corrected 545 operational deficiencies at 123 surface water filtration plants, improving drinking water quality for nearly 4 million residents.

Other innovative infrastructure programs summarized in the report include: -- PennWorks, which was made possible by a bond issue the Governor championed and voters overwhelmingly approved in May 2004; -- Business in Our Sites, which helps communities plan and prepare sites for new business development; -- Infrastructure Development Program, which provides money for specific infrastructure improvements necessary to complement capital investment by private companies and developers; and -- the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, which gives businesses access to low-interest financing for water and sewer projects.

PennWorks provides $200 million in new grants and loans for water infrastructure improvements to help make up for the continued cuts to the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which was created in 1987 to help states fund water quality improvement projects.

"The Clean Water State Revolving Fund has been a significant part of the commonwealth's water quality improvement efforts for two decades, combining state and federal funds to upgrade our aging infrastructure, but if the President's budget is approved as proposed, he will have succeeded in cutting this critical funding by half in just three years," Governor Rendell said. "These steep cuts jeopardize our ability to tackle the serious environmental and economic development challenges facing our communities, and I urge the President and Congress to fund fully this vital and proven program."

The Governor has also offered non-traditional methods for municipal sewage treatment facilities and farmers to meet new mandates and reduce pollution through Pennsylvania's innovative nutrient trading program, and has created the largest Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the nation to help limit agricultural runoff that contributes nutrients and sediment to waterways.

The already successful PENNVEST, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, program has been enhanced by new ideas under Governor Rendell's leadership. According to the report, PENNVEST has redirected funding to small and financially distressed systems, often in rural communities, to promote the economic revitalization of these areas and to promote the health and safety of citizens without putting an excessive burden on ratepayers. Since 2003, PENNVEST has invested $800 million in 240 water and wastewater improvement projects across the state. PENNVEST makes low-interest loans and grants available to municipalities, municipal authorities and private entities.

The report also highlights how Governor Rendell has also worked with the legislature to enact new regulations to reduce toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania by 90 percent by 2015, which will decrease the amount of mercury reaching Pennsylvania's streams.

"Our investments in drinking water and wastewater projects help communities provide adequate, dependable water supplies, which gives businesses the confidence to invest in Pennsylvania," Governor Rendell said. "Whether these projects are providing increased sewage capacity to help bring 15,000 new jobs to Montgomery County, storm water improvements to make a community park accessible year round in Union County, or handle storm water and sewer overflows to protect the health and safety of citizens in rural Blair County, they are making life in Pennsylvania better."

Governor Rendell took office pledging an innovative approach to make economic development and environmental protection work together through the strategic investment of state resources. "Making Pennsylvania's Water Resources Safer" shows the progress of this approach. Pennsylvania has more jobs now than at any other time in history because of Governor Rendell's investments in projects that breathe new life into old industrial sites, accommodate new businesses and encourage private economic investment.

For more information, visit http://www.growinggreener2.com/files/watereportfinal2006.pdf and http://www.growinggreener2.com/files/appendixwatereport2006.pdf to see the report, "Making Pennsylvania's Water Resources Safer."

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo 717-783-1116

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo of Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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