WASHINGTON, DC, OCT 25, 2018 -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a wide-ranging bill to improve the nation's water infrastructure, according to the New York Times.
The America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 authorizes more than $6 billion in spending over 10 years for projects nationwide.
Among the law's provisions, $1.3 billion is earmarked for the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir. The law also boosts projects to restore Gulf Coast wetlands damaged by Hurricane Harvey, and sets up a new framework intended to increase local input on large water projects run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The bill was approved by both the House and Senate on Oct. 15.
Following the announcement, several groups applauded the news of the bill's passage.
"The U.S. water sector is enormously fragmented with over 53,000 community drinking water systems. To put that number in perspective, nationwide there are only 3,300 energy utilities. As a result, many smaller and municipally-owned water systems find themselves struggling to meet water quality standards, which puts community health at risk," said NAWC president and CEO Robert Powelson. "Increasingly, some systems lack expertise and financial resources to operate and invest in their systems. Consolidation, partnerships and a more integrated approach can help achieve economies of scale and facilitate capital attraction, as well as technological and financial viability. The ‘America’s Water Infrastructure Act’ is a step in the right direction."
