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In communities in Florida and across the country, drink-ing water and sewerage systems are straining under the weight of decades of federal government underinvest-ment. In recent years, the State Revolving Funds werefinanced at some of the lowest levels in history. For fiscal year 2008, Florida received only $60 million, a mere 4.3percent of the $1.4 billion that the state’s water and sewersystems need.
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 As the troubles with our water infrastructure mount, thecountry’s economy slides deeper into recession. Florida’sJanuary 2009 unemployment rate reached 8.6 percent,or 800,500 people
,
up from 5.0 percent a year earlier. About one in 12 people in the labor force are now unem-ployed.
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Investing now in water and sewer systems to gener-ate solid economic growth can lead the state out of therecession.
 Every federal dollar invested in infrastructureyields a $1.59 return to our states
.
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The National Utility Contractors Association estimates that for every $1 bil-lion spent on water infrastructure, nearly 27,000 jobs arecreated.
4
 The economic stimulus legislation passed by Congress inFebruary 2009 provides more money to water infrastruc-ture than the country has seen in recent years, but thisone-time allotment cannot cure the problems plaguingmany communities. In fact, the bill provides water andsewer systems with less than one-third of what the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency estimates we should spendeach year just to maintain them.
Florida’s Water Infrastructure Funding Gap:
 Florida’s water needs outpace its current ability to fundprojects by a large margin.For the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)program, the state’s most recent Intended Use Plan lists31 fundable projects at a total cost of $268.7 million.
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In2008, the state received
only $36.8 million
in federalfunding
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— enough to finance 13.7 percent of its needs.Federal contributions to Florida’s drinking water fundingefforts have decreased by 18.5 percent since the Drink-ing Water SRF was implemented in fiscal 1997 and 39.3percent when adjusted for inflation.
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For the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, which goes toward wastewater infrastructure, the state’smost recent Intended Use Plan lists 140 projects at a totalcost of $1.1 billion.
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In 2008, the state received $23.0 mil-
O
ur nation’s water infrastructure and economy are bound together. Aidingthe former will help the latter. Unfortunately, these days, both are treadingtroubled waters.
Why Florida Needs Federal Fundingfor Water Infrastructure
WATER 
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