At a Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing on June 13, Congressman John T. Salazar continued his effort to make sure that rural communities don't bear the burden of meeting federal clean water standards. Salazar has been committed to creating a permanent partnership between the federal government and rural communities, to make sure that small towns and local communities have access to clean water.

"Clean water is the right of every American," said Salazar. "Rural communities are struggling with how to pay for competing and costly infrastructure improvement projects, while federal funding streams continue to dry up. We need a dedicated source of federal funds, to make sure that the yearly partisan bickering doesn't compromise our water safety."

Salazar is a Member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over water quality and wastewater infrastructure programs, including the Clean Water Act. In the wake of a spending bill that virtually eliminates Colorado's clean water funds, Salazar has increased his scrutiny of methods to provide rural communities with the funding they need for clean water and wastewater programs.

The hearing was the second in a two part series on how to structure a dedicated source of federal funding to assist rural communities clean water efforts.

The following facilities in Salazar's district will need federal assistance to meet clean water standards:

*Clifton Wastewater Treatment Facility needs more than $13 million in improvements to meet new federal guidelines. But with only 12,000 residents in Clifton and a struggling economy, the project would be near impossible without federal assistance.

*Durango Water Sewer Plant needs $2 million to complete Phase 3 upgrades and an additional $450,000 for new sand-carbon filters to comply with the Clean Water Act. If last minute federal funding had not been secured for the first two phases, the city would have been forced to institute major rate increases.

*Pueblo Wastewater Treatment Plant projects ammonia and selenium treatment upgrades will incur a combined cost of $55 million.

"The current funding mechanism will barely maintain things as they are, but we're in a place where we need to upgrade systems from more than 30, 40 years back," said Salazar. "We've had clean water funding problems for decades. Making sure that money actually gets to clean water programs and infrastructure projects is something this Congress should tackle."

Salazar heard testimony today on the potential for modifying the tax code to allow for a tax deduction for water and wastewater utility fees, similar to the deduction currently authorized for local property taxes. Increasing rates is often the fallback method adopted by communities facing funding problems. Allowing for the deduction of water and wastewater expenses could reduce the impact rate increases will have on local water users.

Last week's testimony included debate on the merits of establishing a clean water trust fund similar to the national highway and aviation trust funds, to ensure that communities get the financing they need.

If you have any questions or comments on these matters or any other please do not hesitate to call.

John Whitney
Southwest Regional Director
Congressman John Salazar
970-375-3264
http://www.house.gov/salazar/