$4 Billion for Water Upgrades in Federal Government’s 2023 Budget: What Does It Mean for You?
For over a decade, the American Society of Civil Engineers has awarded the U.S. drinking water infrastructure a grade of D or D-minus. In 2016, the Bipartisan Policy Center published a study with the opening, “America has a water problem.” The study estimated that by 2020, America would need to invest $3.6 trillion just to get its water systems up to an acceptable level.
In the federal government’s new $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, at least $4 billion is allocated to help upgrade water systems.
What does this mean for companies and their water management strategies?
What’s in the budget?
While the infrastructure plan includes sweeping measures concerning roads, bridges, broadband, and more, water management teams should be primarily focused on the $11.881 billion allocated to the Environmental Protection Agency.
In April, the EPA published a detailed report outlining the agency’s priorities for fiscal year 2023, which include:
Tackling the climate crisis.
Advancing environmental justice and civil rights.
Enforcing environmental laws and ensuring compliance.
Ensuring clean and healthy air for all.
Ensuring clean and safe water for all.
Safeguarding and revitalizing communities (e.g., hazardous waste solutions).
Ensuring the safety of chemicals for people and the environment.
Restoring the EPA’s capacity.
These goals will affect regulations and compliance for anyone in charge of managing a major facility. So, where does water come in?
What is being done about water?
Of the $11.881 billion allocated for the EPA, $4 billion is earmarked to “ensure clean and safe water for all communities.”
This goal is further broken down into two categories:
Upgrading drinking water.
Improving wastewater infrastructure.
Federal government efforts will focus on underserved communities. Of the $4 billion, 25% will go to fully fund water grant programs authorized in the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. The budget also details plans to reduce lead in drinking water, invest in stormwater reuse, build a $25 million cybersecurity program for the water sector, and maintain funding for State Revolving Funds.
For facility managers, it will be essential to maintain awareness of grant funding and government goals. The EPA oversees compliance regarding water regulations, and facilities must stay up to date on the latest priorities. Water reuse, cybersecurity, and water equity will be significant in the coming years.
What’s going to get us there?
So, how do we get there? How can facility managers stay ahead of changing regulations and be responsible stewards of the country’s water?
In the U.S. Chamber Letter on 2022 Water Policy Priorities, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named technology innovation and adoption as key to solving the nation’s water issues. The chamber describes the importance of “technology innovation programs and smart, digital technologies to transform and make water infrastructure management more effective.”
In the federal government’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, water management and water risk play a significant role. Facility managers can expect new funding and regulation to affect their water management — and set priorities for the years to come.
But next-generation, AI-powered water management technology is already here. Aquanomix’s Symphony™ Software Suite is the only third-party, comprehensive, real-time technology platform designed to help companies minimize water risk and increase efficiencies in their water systems. According to one healthcare system client in the southeastern United States, “Symphony™ provides our facilities with actionable data and drives accountability across our healthcare portfolio. We are bringing historically isolated data back to life and using it to produce better outcomes in our water risk management program.”
Stay ahead of the curve with the latest in water management innovation at Aquanomix.com.