Clean Water Advocacy - Newsroom - AMSA in the News
No. 181
Wednesday, September 18, 2002 Page A-8
ISSN 1521-9402
News
Security
Safeguarding Water as Regular Function
Among Biggest Challenges, EPA Official Says
One of the biggest challenges in safeguarding drinking water and wastewater
will be to determine how to "institutionalize" security, an Environmental
Protection Agency official said Sept. 17.
"Security can't be a separate function," said Diane Regas, deputy assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Water. "It must be embedded in business as
usual."
Regas made her remarks at the American Water Resources Association's National
Water Resources Policy Dialogue. The event, which is sponsored by 10 federal
agencies and co-sponsored by more than 20 other organizations, is addressing
concerns about national water issues. It concludes Sept. 18.
A second major water security challenge is dealing with the huge amount of money
needed to replace and maintain aging infrastructure, according to Regas.
EPA is expected within weeks to release a "gap analysis" detailing the gap
between available funding and actual infrastructure needs, according to Benjamin
Grumbles, deputy assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water.
"I'm afraid security is in danger of becoming another part of that gap," Regas
said.
The third major challenge in providing security is information, she said. "We
need better information out there, but we also need to figure out what needs to
be kept secure and how to keep it so," she said.
Technological Advances
Joan Rose, a scientist who has accepted a position at Michigan State University,
said the notion that it "would take truckloads" of a substance to contaminate a
drinking water supply is a myth. Other views that drinking water is safe because
it is tested often and treated are false as well, she said.
Particularly troublesome to water supplies is the bacteria E. coli, since
detection can completely disrupt a water supply and lead to "boil water" alerts,
she said.
Anthrax is another worrisome contaminant in water because it is resistant to
chlorine, she said.
Rose predicted that in five years sophisticated technology would be available
that could detect the source of a contaminant and determine its level of risk,
all within 48 hours.
Infrastructure
In the area of infrastructure needs, the American Society of Civil Engineers has
assessed five areas of water infrastructure crucial to the U.S. economy and
quality of life, Gerald Galloway, general chair of the dialogue, said in opening
remarks.
The five areas are dams, drinking water systems, wastewater systems, navigable
waterways, and energy, including hydropower, he said.
In addition to issuing an infrastructure "gap analysis" within weeks, EPA plans
to release a new needs survey under the Clean Water Act by the end of 2002,
Grumbles said.
Just as the water infrastructure challenge did not occur overnight, it will not
be solved overnight, according to Grumbles. "The problem must be tackled at the
federal, state, and local levels," he said.
In working with Congress on infrastructure legislation, EPA is advocating the
principles of asset management, system sustainability, and greater private
sector involvement, he said.
Asset Management Not the Problem
But a representative of treatment works took issue with EPA and Congress, saying
better asset management is needed. Ken Kirk, executive director of the
Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, said his group has several
concerns with infrastructure financing bills in the House (H.R. 3930) and Senate
(S. 1961).
Perhaps most troubling, he said, is that the Senate bill implies that managers
of publicly owned treatment works are inept by stressing ideas such as asset
management. "They're saying they're part of the problem rather than the
solution."
The bills also contain provisions that would make it difficult for applicants to
obtain loans and would increase transaction costs, he said. Seeking
modifications to both bills, AMSA does not want to see the legislation passed
this year, he said.
Kirk also said his group is looking forward to EPA's forthcoming gap analysis as
it is expected to support industry's estimate that about $1 trillion over the
next 20 years will be needed for infrastructure.
Tiger by the Tail
An earlier leaked version of EPA's gap analysis showed a gap of about $650
billion. Assuming both the House and Senate bills are passed, and the funds
appropriated, there would still only be about $1 billion a year for
infrastructure, according to Kirk.
"Last year we thought we had the tiger by the tail," Kirk said. The United
States was at peace, the economy was strong, there was a federal budget surplus,
and the administration seemed to be supportive, he said.
Today, security has overtaken many other concerns, the economy is weaker, the
budget surplus is gone, and public policy officials do not appear to be as
concerned about water infrastructure, he said.
"But the problem will not go away," Kirk said. An EPA report of a year ago
predicted that if water infrastructure needs are not addressed by 2015,
pollution will be at the same levels of 1970, he said.
Well-managed utilities in themselves are not the solution, but rather federal
help is needed, he said.
By Patricia Ware