Clean Water Referendum: jobs and improved infrastructure

MY TURN By Governor Ed Rendell On Election Day, your ballot will have a complex question that’s really quite simple: will you support a $400 million investment to clean up Pennsylvania’s waterways and provide safer, more dependable drinking water and sewer services? The systems that deliver these services are aging and need repairs. With $400 million, we can invest in our economy by supporting 12,000 Pennsylvania jobs, strengthening our infrastructure. Every day, more than 10 million Pennsylvanians go to their taps and expect clean water, but many of our drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, along with miles of pipes that provide these services, are nearing the end of their useful lives. These systems are increasingly unable to sustain community growth and meet new demands from residents and industry. The Governor and General Assembly have laid the groundwork to begin addressing this tremendous unmet need by enacting legislation to repair and upgrade our water infrastructure. But given the tens of billions of dollars that are needed, this amount is just a drop in the bucket. And with fewer dollars coming from Washington to support these essential projects, the challenge for the commonwealth and its citizens becomes even greater. On Nov. 4, voters will have the opportunity to further address this need and ensure our communities benefit from cleaner water and more reliable sewage service. The non-partisan Clean Water Referendum will ask voters to approve $400 million for public drinking water and wastewater system repairs, stormwater improvements, and practices to limit the pollution reaching our waterways. Whether you live in a large city or a rural community, your family will benefit from this investment. Our future depends on a safe and reliable supply of water. Citizens and businesses want to know that there is a dependable supply of water and reliable sewage service to meet their needs; without it, they will close up shop or choose to locate elsewhere. The need is clear and the price tag is substantial. A recent study by the Sustainable Infrastructure Task Force that I convened earlier this year estimates drinking water and wastewater systems statewide need at least $36.5 billion of work over the next 20 years to maintain service. And that total does not even take into account the millions more that are needed for ongoing operation and maintenance costs. If we allow our infrastructure to continue deteriorating at its current rate, so too will the state’s business climate and the quality of life in Pennsylvania’s communities. We cannot afford to let this happen, so we must step up and make this much needed investment today. This is something we have to do now. We can support 12,000 Pennsylvania jobs by investing $400 million on these needed repairs.