In communities in New Jersey and across the country, drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvestment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, New Jersey received only $46 million, a mere 3.0 percent of the $1.5 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.
Original Title
Why New Jersey Needs Federal Funding for Water Infrastructure
In communities in New Jersey and across the country, drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvestment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, New Jersey received only $46 million, a mere 3.0 percent of the $1.5 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.
In communities in New Jersey and across the country, drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvestment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, New Jersey received only $46 million, a mere 3.0 percent of the $1.5 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.
Funding for Water Infrastructure Fact Sheet • April 2009
O ur nation’s water infrastructure and economy are bound together. Aiding
the former will help the latter. Unfortunately, these days, both are treading troubled waters.
In communities in New Jersey and across the country,
drinking water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvest- ment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds were financed at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, New Jersey received only $46 million, a mere 3.0 percent of the $1.5 billion that the state’s water and sewer systems need.1
As the troubles with our water infrastructure mount, the
country’s economy slides deeper into recession. New Jersey’s January 2009 unemployment rate reached 7.3 percent, or about 329,900 people, up from 4.6 percent a year earlier. Nearly one in 14 people in the labor force are now unemployed.2
Investing now in water and sewer systems to generate sol-
id economic growth can lead the state out of the recession. Every federal dollar invested in infrastructure yields a $1.59 return to our states.3 The National Utility Contrac- tors Association estimates that for every $1 billion spent on water infrastructure, nearly 27,000 jobs are created.4
The economic stimulus legislation passed by Congress in
February 2009 provides more money to water infrastruc- ture than the country has seen in recent years, but this the state received only $18.0 million in federal funding6 one-time allotment cannot cure the problems plaguing — enough to finance 1/35th of its needs. many communities. In fact, the bill provides water and sewer systems with less than one-third of what the Envi- Federal contributions to New Jersey’s drinking water ronmental Protection Agency estimates we should spend funding efforts have decreased by 35.5 percent since the each year just to maintain them. Drinking Water SRF was implemented in fiscal 1997 and 51.9 percent when adjusted for inflation.7 New Jersey’s Water Infrastructure Funding Gap: New Jersey’s water needs outpace its current ability to For the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, fund projects by a large margin. which goes toward wastewater infrastructure, the state’s most recent Intended Use Plan lists 94 projects at a total For the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) pro- cost of $892 million.8 In 2008, the state received $27.8 gram, the state’s most recent Intended Use Plan lists 181 million in federal funding9 — enough to finance 3.1 per- projects at a total cost of at least $625 million.5 In 2008, cent of its needs. Federal contributions to New Jersey’s wastewater fund- ing efforts have decreased by 66.8 percent since the Clean Water SRF was fully implemented in fiscal 1991 and 79.0 percent when adjusted for inflation.10
Job Creation: Fully addressing New Jersey’s currently
listed water needs of $1.5 billion would spur 40,457 employment opportunities, according to National Utility Contractors Association estimates for job creation from water infrastructure investments. That could put back to work one out of every eight unemployed people in the state.