News

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

The AGC Municipal & Utilities Division hosted Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at AGC’s 90th Annual Convention in San Diego. Albee is 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 addressed the significant challenges facing our aging water infrastructure and the critical role that contractors play in ensuring public health and water quality. 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 had thought that a Trust Fund for Clean Water would never materialize, but was extremely optimistic given recent developments in water infrastructure.  These include the $7.4 billion contained in the stimulus for clean and drinking water, the recent passage of $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects, 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 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. Click here for a copy of Allbee’s presentation For more information or a copy of Allbee’s presentation, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org