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This week, the House of Representatives will vote on a proposed fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that contains significant cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program. NACWA is urging its Member Agencies to contact your Representatives TODAY to urge them to oppose these cuts.

The House EPA  bill contains drastic cuts to the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs providing $1.8 billion in total funding – a 23% cut from current levels. The CWSRF is funded at $1.018 billion and the DWSRF at $757 million – a 30% and 16% cut respectively. The Senate bill  calls for similar cuts providing the SRFs $1.852 billion -- $1.047 for the CWSRF and $776 million for the DWSRF (28% and 14% cuts respectively).

These spending bills are calling for steep cuts to clean water funding during a time when drinking water and wastewater agencies face increased regulatory and enforcement pressures, including in the Senate appropriations bill itself (see Current article on the stringent Great Lakes provisions that NACWA is working hard to get removed). At the same time, these cuts come at a time when utilities are also facing management and cost pressures from unprecedented droughts in one third of the country. For these reasons, it is critical that NACWA Members voice your opposition to these cuts by contacting your Congressional delegation and urge the full restoration of funding to the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF programs.

NACWA sent a letter , with six other water sector organizations, urging Congress to stand firm on funding for clean and safe water infrastructure for FY 2016. The letter specifically calls on Congress to fund the Clean Water SRF at $1.45 billion; fund the Drinking Water (SRF) at $1.186 billion; fully fund the Water Infrastructure Financing & Innovation Act (WIFIA) program at $25 million; and, provide $50 million for water reuse and conservation projects.

Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov for contact information for your Member.

Members are invited to use the coalition letter  to draft similar letters of their own to Congress. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.