Miami Herald OPINION TET oO Time to invest in a critical resource: our water For years Miam-Dade's water snd newer tes have Geen sone the fowest inthe United States, bot thas come tacos, ‘Plans fr improvements to our ‘waterinfasrucure were delayed Unt the EPA stepped in a few ‘Years ago and forced Miami-Dade County to take a hard, sobering Took at the aged and’ decaying ‘contons of ts water and sewer syste. since then the county has k- ‘en proscive measures fo ceste a robust and holistic captal ‘Provement progam that wil not ‘aly rehabilitate but aso des land construct a world-class sys. tem to addrest our continu ‘gow and impending cimate- ope expected a Mami Dade ‘ater & Sewer Depanment's (MDWASD) Capial "Improve- sent Program (CID) wil provide really needed economic benefits {0 ou business community. The ‘SkStuion investment over the ‘ext I yeas wil generate more ‘than 36000 jobs and crete more ‘than $25 billion of economic ac= Livy’ within Miami-Dade over ‘the new 0 years nadition cof dling "economic growth {hroughour al sectors ofthe re- ‘onal economy. "AS the voice of business in ‘South Florida the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has ‘opted a resolsonin suppor of nomic benefits for yearsto come: "The CIP isthe largest capital ‘rogram ever undenaken By any Eeparmen of Miami-Dade ‘Councys government. wil pro- ‘ide at unprecedented apport ity for smaller local engineering nd consereon fms pari ‘Pate and row withthe "MDWASD has hosed a series of countywide community open ‘houses to provide the public with ong ‘Where ts needed. The CIPS de= Signed 0 address aging ini Seu comply heey nome grown whe sll keeping lity rates competitive with Inter elsewhere it Flori ‘and ‘cross the nation. ‘Water isthe most ential re source in our dal ives yer we of ten take it for gnnted. No one ‘would argue te ned wo fest Dealhcae educatonoreanspor” taton, yet our past investments ‘water ave ben inadequate “The tm has come Sus On| ensuring’ continued funding for Sur ter infstraure moving {ato the future in onder to grow our economy. and guarantee a lean, sustainable an affordable war supply for frre enerations, "ets Bot, nk, usta, {Eroament tary Comme, (est Dard Chabert Cone, mn