Underground Construction - October 2021 - 23

financially distressed communities, if there are enough eligible
project applications, with at least 60 percent of that allocation
dedicated to rural areas.
The legislation authorizes $75 million annually through
2026 in research grants to address water pollution and training
at water treatment works. The current $25-million-per-year
authorization runs through FY 2023. At least $50 million per
year would be for grants to nonprofits supporting small, rural
and tribal water treatment operations.
Finally, the measure would extend the annual $50-million
authorization for the Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program through FY 2026.
WIFIA is a popular, but woefully underfunded, financing
program intended to help pay for larger water/sewer projects,
allowing traditional SRFs to help fund other needed projects
across the country.
Importantly, $55.4 billion in " supplemental emergency
appropriations " for state and tribal assistance grants, including
capitalization grants through the Drinking Water and Clean
Water SRFs, are provided specified activities for FY 2022
through 2026, including:
* $15 billion to replace lead service lines
* $5 billion to support disadvantaged communities impacted
by emerging contaminants
* $4 billion to focus on polyfluoroalkyl substance contaminants
The measure would also provide $8.3 billion for the water and
related resources activities, with $3.2 billion being set aside for
aging infrastructure overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Needed funding
EPA estimates that $271 billion and $473 billion will be needed
for wastewater/stormwater and drinking water infrastructure,
respectively. Seeing how federal spending has traditionally
accounted for a meager 4 percent of all spending on America's
environmental infrastructure, and that hundreds of billions
of dollars are sorely needed, the funding provided in the
infrastructure package is long overdue and would be a sound
investment in critical American assets.
Our underground water and sewer infrastructure ensures
that Americans have access to clean drinking water and safe,
sanitary wastewater systems, and helps to keep our economy
moving. Investments in this infrastructure enhance public
health and environmental protection, but also create highpaying
jobs, generate significant economic activity and expand
the local tax base.
In fact, a study sponsored, in large part by the National
Utility Contractors Association, indicates that every $1 billion
invested in water and wastewater infrastructure creates up to
28,000 new jobs, with average annual earnings of more than
$50,000, and increases demand for products and services in
other industries by more than $3 billion.
Lawmakers are even upping their game in annual SRF
appropriations. In a " minibus " package passed earlier this
year, congressional appropriators approved $1.9 billion for the
Clean Water SRF (a 14-percent increase) and $1.4 billion (a
21-percent increase) for the Drinking Water SRF.
Let's get this done
The federal government clearly has an important role to play in
improving American infrastructure. Future articles will address
other underground markets that would benefit, and this year,
there's lots to talk about.
Sound investments to deploy broadband and harden
the electric grid are prime examples, and utilities and the
contractors who work for them will all benefit, while the
industry does its part to help the country climb out of a global
pandemic that once seemed to doom the American economy.
At the same time, we're making sure that shortsighted
policies that would restrict the use or access to natural gas are
eliminated or mitigated, as much as possible.
This column will take a deep dive in all of these markets and
the needed investments made by our nation's policymakers.
We wanted to start with a focus on critical water and
wastewater infrastructure markets and the potential for
Congress to finally step up and increase investments in our
environmental infrastructure. *
WYMAN ASSOCIATES offers
strategic consulting with its clients
and direct advocacy before the
United States Congress and
executive branch agencies. Working with several allies in Washington and
around the country, provides clients a constant voice in the national debate.
UCONonline.com | OCTOBER 2021
23
Advocates were ... finally looking at significant
investment in markets that were often
considered " out of sight, out of mind. " The
bipartisan infrastructure bill would authorize
$550 billion in new spending for water and
wastewater systems, broadband deployment
and surface transportation infrastructure.
http://www.UCONonline.com

Underground Construction - October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Construction - October 2021

Contents
Underground Construction - October 2021 - Cover1
Underground Construction - October 2021 - Cover2
Underground Construction - October 2021 - Contents
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 4
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 5
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 6
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 7
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 8
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 9
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 10
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 11
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 12
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 13
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 14
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 15
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 16
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 17
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 18
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 19
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 20
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 21
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 22
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 23
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 24
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 25
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 26
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 27
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 28
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 29
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 30
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 31
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 32
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 33
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 34
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 35
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 36
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 37
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 38
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 39
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 40
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 41
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 42
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 43
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 44
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 45
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 46
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 47
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 48
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 49
Underground Construction - October 2021 - 50
Underground Construction - October 2021 - Cover3
Underground Construction - October 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/gulfenergyinfo/gulfpub/underground-construction-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/gulfenergyinfo/gulfpub/uc_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uesi_summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uesi_winter2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_ditchwitch
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gulfpub/uc_201706
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com