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A number of water sector organizations jointly authored a letter to the Chairwomen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies addressing funding for national priorities water research.
The organizations submitting the letter included:
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The Water Research Foundation
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American Water Works Association
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Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
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American Society of Civil Engineers
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National Association of Water Companies
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Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc.
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Water Environment Federation
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WateReuse
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US Water Alliance
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National Association of Clean Water Agencies
The organizations argued for the importance of the water sector and the challenges it faces which are stated to include:
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Extreme drought
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Catastrophic flooding
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Failing infrastructure
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Emerging Contaminants
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Dramatic changes in population
They deem water research critical in developing “cost-effective solutions to these challenges that ensure thriving, resilient communities, create jobs, and support healthy families.”
An estimated $300 million in unfunded water research projects is cited – but still labeled only a small fraction of the entire water sector’s research, development and demonstration needs.
The organizations ask Congress to provide additional support for certain programs in 2020 which include:
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To increase funding for the National Priorities Water Research grant program to $20 million to reflect urgent research needs of the water sector.
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To fully fund the Innovative Water Technologies grant program at $10 million, as authorized, for fiscal year 2020.
A copy of the letter can be found here.