In communities in Illinois 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, Illinois received only $64 million, a mere 2.8percent of the $2.3 billion that the state’s water and sewersystems need.

As the troubles with our water infrastructure mount, thecountry’s economy slides deeper into recession. Illinois’January 2009 unemployment rate reached 7.9 percent, orabout 519,000 people

up from 5.8 percent a year earlier.More than one in 13 people in the labor force are now unemployed.

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

The National Utility Contractors Association estimates that for every $1 bil-lion spent on water infrastructure, nearly 27,000 jobs arecreated.

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.

Illinois’ Water Infrastructure Funding Gap:

Il-linois’ water needs outpace its current ability to fundprojects by a large margin.For the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) pro-gram, the state’s most recent Intended Use Plan lists 175projects at a total cost of $447 million.

In 2008, the statereceived

only $33.2 million

in federal funding

— enoughto finance 7.4 percent of its needs.Federal contributions to Illinois’ drinking water fundingefforts have decreased by 13.7 percent since the Drink-ing Water SRF was implemented in fiscal 1997 and 35.7percent when adjusted for inflation.

For the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, which goes toward wastewater infrastructure, the state’smost recent Intended Use Plan lists 200 projects at a to-

ur nation’s water infrastructure and economy are bound together. Aidingthe former will help the latter. Unfortunately, these days, both are treadingtroubled waters.

Why Illinois Needs Federal Fundingfor Water Infrastructure

WATER