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In communities in Oregon 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, Oregon received only $20 million, a mere5.7 percent of the $341 million that the state’s water andsewer systems need.
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 As the troubles with our water infrastructure mount, thecountry’s economy slides deeper into recession. Oregon’sJanuary 2009 unemployment rate reached 9.9 percent,or about 198,200 people
,
up from 5.3 percent a yearearlier. Nearly one in 10 people in the labor force are now unemployed.
2
Investing now in water and sewer systems to generate sol-id economic growth can lead the state out of the recession.
 Every federal dollar invested in infrastructure yields a$1.59 return to our states
.
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The National Utility Contrac-tors Association estimates that for every $1 billion spenton water infrastructure, nearly 27,000 jobs are created.
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 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.
Oregon’s Water Infrastructure Funding Gap:
 Oregon’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 lists20 projects at a total cost of $30.7 million.
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In 2008, thestate received
only $11.9 million
in federal funding
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—enough to finance 38.8 percent of its needs.Federal contributions to Oregon’s drinking water fundingefforts have decreased by 37.0 percent since the Drink-ing Water SRF was implemented in fiscal 1997 and 53.1percent when adjusted for inflation.
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For the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, which goes toward wastewater infrastructure, the state’s
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 Oregon Needs Federal Fundingfor Water Infrastructure
WATER 
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