March 10, 2005

To the Editor:

The Des Moines Register missed the mark when it criticized the Legislature for failure to do anything on water quality.  The editorial on March 9 notes that no action has been taken on the Governor’s proposal to allocate up to $50 million for local water quality projects as part of his larger proposal to fund economic development efforts through bonding.  Yet, on March 8, the Senate Natural Resources Committee approved a major water quality initiative proposed by the water utility alliance.  This bill proposes to dedicate the sales tax collected on potable water to water quality purposes.  This proposal was endorsed by the Governor’s Water Quality Summit, held in 2003 and by Iowans for a Better Future as recognition that quality water is one of our strengths in economic development.

The Water Utility Alliance is a coalition of the organizations representing the drinking water and wastewater utilities in Iowa .  As members of this coalition, we represent nearly every drinking water and wastewater utility in the state.  The Water Utility Alliance is working with the Legislature to appropriate funds that will be targeted to improving the condition of Iowa ’s surface and ground water resources. Degradation of Iowa ’s water resources increases the need for costly treatment processes to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) drinking water standards.

The proposal approved by the Senate Natural Resources Committee would dedicate the $18 million collected annually in sales tax on potable water.  The dedicated fund would be phased in over five years.  It would accomplish three objectives:

1.       Create a fund to support watershed protection projects at the local level including source water protection and wellhead protection efforts being undertaking by drinking water utilities.  Forty percent of the sales tax revenue from potable water would be allocated to this purpose.

2.       Create a state-funded infrastructure replacement revolving loan fund targeted to small communities.  Iowa is a small system state with 94% of our drinking water systems serving fewer than 3,300 people.  Iowa has over 700 communities that need improvements to their sewer systems to protect water quality.  These low interest loans would help communities update aging infrastructure and incorporate proper sewage treatment facilities.  A $9 million investment (50% of the sales tax collected on water) by the state can be leveraged two times, creating a potential fund of $18 million for infrastructure improvement.

3.       Provide consistent and sustainable funding to meet the regulatory requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act through the Department of Natural Resources to protect the public health of citizens of Iowa .

This is a good start to water quality improvements, but additional funding, strong leadership, and working together are necessary to improve Iowa 's water quality.  Water quality is an important public policy issue and the Iowa Legislature is listening.

Iowa Rural Water Association

Iowa Association of Water Agencies

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities

Iowa League of Cities

Iowa Section – American Waterworks Association

Iowa Water Pollution Control Association