M&U Division Learns About Challenges and Opportunities for Water Infrastructure

The AGC Municipal & Utilities Division hosted Mr. Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at AGC's 90th Annual Convention in San Diego. Albee a 30-year veteran of the EPA, serving as the primary author of the EPA Clean and Drinking Water Gap Analysis and one of the leaders in establishing the State Revolving Fund Program. He is widely regarded as one of the leading national experts on water infrastructure needs and advanced asset management approaches. Allbee was featured in the AGC funded documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure. Allbee gave a compelling presentation about the significant challenges facing our aging water infrastructure and the critical role that contractors play in ensuring public health and water quality. His thorough and entertaining presentation was well received by the audience of fifty-plus contractors. Allbee noted that the level of attention and funding for water and wastewater was unprecedented and lauded AGC for its support in raising awareness in Congress and throughout the nation with Liquid Assets. Albee commented that he thought that a Trust Fund for Clean Water would never happen, but was extremely optimistic given recent developments in water infrastructure, including the $7.4 billion contained in the stimulus for clean and drinking water, the recent passage of H.R. 1262, which contains $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects including $13.8 billion program for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and the President's 2010 Budget which called for $3.9 billion for the Safe Drinking and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Programs. Establishment of a of Clean Water Trust Fund is one of AGC's top legislative priorities in the 111th Congress and AGC anticipates the introduction of legislation in the coming months. For more information or a copy of Mr. Allbee's presentation, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-1983 or fowlerp@agc.org.