Comments to the Interagency Task Force on Water Quality

Edna Primrose
Assistant Administrator
Rural Development, Water and Environment Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
400 Jefferson Drive SW
Washington, DC 20250

• Mobilize private capital. The Chamber is engaging U.S. government agencies, companies, and foundations regarding an innovative financing pilot to ensure increased private investment to address small community infrastructure affecting water quality. The Chamber invites Interagency task force members to join and build consensus on an approach.
• Highlight funding mechanisms for specific treatment needs and emerging contaminants. Numerous small communities are facing substantial capital costs to address water quality issues as EPA changes regulations or new sources of contamination are identified.
• Promote the enabling environment to modernize small community water and wastewater infrastructure. The Chamber supports developing policies to assist with project implementation and collaboration.
• Integrate green infrastructure, water reuse, and resilience into long-term small communities’ planning and decision making. Green infrastructure and reuse are important options for communities to build resilient infrastructure and address stormwater challenges. They should be explicit eligible activities under various funding and financing programs. The Chamber encourages the Interagency task force to work with the states to make such approaches eligible for predisaster mitigation efforts, including funding from FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.
• Develop a guidebook in which communities can identify the approach and resources to get started. The Chamber is collaborating with university and foundation partners to develop a guidance manual for local decision makers that provides basic information about water systems and where they can go for both public and private resources and assistance on various topics (e.g., technical assistance, financial assistance, partnerships, and technology). The document should include a checklist of questions to guide communities through investment and implementation options.

Thank you for your consideration of these recommendations, and we stand ready to assist the Interagency task force in its important mission of ensuring reliable water and wastewater infrastructure for rural and small communities and small businesses.

Sincerely,

Chuck Chaitovitz
Vice President
Environmental Affairs & Sustainability