The Clean Water Investment Coalition is a broad-based coalition of municipal officials, environmentalists, labor groups and business organizations.

We are here today because the Clean Water Fund is in trouble. It was created to ensure that towns and cities can afford to undertake projects to clean up Connecticut’s rivers and Long Island Sound. At present funding levels it simply cannot do this job.

The Department of Environmental Protection has requested $157 million in general obligation (GO) bonds for the Fund next year, and $137 for the second year of the biennium. GO bonds are used to provide project grants. Such a large authorization is necessary because over the past ten years the State has fallen badly behind – these amounts are needed to catch up to where Connecticut is supposed to be, and to provide grants for every municipal and regional project that is ready to go. Governor Rell has made a significant step forward by proposing $70 million in GO bonding for each year in the biennium. Those totals would be the largest in a decade, and more than three times the amount authorized in each of the past two years. We commend her for her leadership.

But the General Assembly needs to go beyond her proposal. The State cannot fall further behind – the quality of our water will continue to suffer and the price tag for necessary projects will continue to rise.

This coalition calls on the General Assembly and the Governor to provide the full $157 million for FY 07-08 and $137 million for FY 08-09 for the Clean Water Fund. Adequate funding for DEP staff is also needed to make sure projects go forward. Although bonding traditionally finances the Clean Water Fund, the state surplus provides another possible source of revenue.

Clean water projects benefit everyone:

• The Environment - it will eliminate thousands of gallons of raw sewage from being dumped in our rivers, streams and Long Island Sound, and make our waters safe for fishing and swimming.
• Our Quality of Life - it makes Connecticut a better place to live and do business,
• Local taxpayers – it helps cushion the financial impact of wastewater treatment projects on municipalities and sewer users.
• Workers: at the level of funding needed, as many as 8,000 jobs will be created.
• The Economy: Long Island Sound alone already contributes as much as $5.5 billion each year to our state’s economy – that will only increase with better water quality.

Without grants, it will be difficult for local governments to pay for projects. The resulting delays mean rising costs for residents and businesses, and our waterways will not get cleaner.

Yesterday, the DEP’s Clean Water Fund Advisory Work Group issued its report. It found, among other things, that:

The Clean Water Fund program is not "BROKEN." The dilemma is a lack of adequate federal and state financing. What is needed is not significant statutory change but rather financial support. It is this lack of funding that needs to be addressed by state policy and fiscal decision makers.

The report details a $5 billion statewide need for clean water projects over the next 20 years.

This coalition representing towns and cities, business, labor and environmentalists are working together to fight for adequate funding for the Clean Water Fund. Clean water is essential to life. We commit to working with State leaders to develop a long-term investment program so that we can leave future generations a legacy that includes clean rivers, lakes and Long Island Sound.